STAND STILL by Danielle Winters

Chapter 10: Bittersweet

Enma had a feeling that he could not understand. The eerie silence in Reikai was a clear indication that it was still in total lock down. He trusted his sacred guardian. They were the ones who had kept him in power for centuries. What he did not expect though was the reikai tantei that his son, Koenma hired. If it weren't for them, he could still be ruling Reikai.

But all good things must come to an end. His son had enjoyed his throne long enough. It was time for him to reclaim his throne. It felt good to sit on his old chair. He could feel his power, his omnipotence once again. Satotsu was pleased with his handy work. He could not wait for Masayoshi to come back. Satotsu heard footsteps echoing in the palace. He had eagerly awaited for this moment. Their one true king, the one true leader of Reikai is reclaiming his throne. But his eager anticipation was crushed when he saw as to whom those footsteps belonged.

Enma gripped the arm rest of his throne. In his current state, he was powerless before the very creatures who stood before him. He needed his symbol of power to defeat the famous Makai Mazoku. All three, walking before him.

"I guess you were expecting someone else?" Mukuro said with a cold tone in her voice. Yomi stood proudly, a playful and sinister smile was on plastered on his face. Between Mukuro and Yomi, there stood the just Mazoku, the very being who kept the balance of power in Makai, Raizen. He was arrogantly smirking at the former leader of Reikai and his sacred guardian.

"Whoever sent the former monk Masayoshi to battle Enki is a complete idiot." Raizen stated. His tone was mocking. "He had clearly underestimated the power of the friendly leader of Makai. Enki is a force not to be reckoned with. When I fought him, I literally had to recover for weeks even though I won our battle." He added.

"Masayoshi is no longer a human. He is a sacred guardian already whose powers can eliminate your vile existence." Satotsu proclaimed confidently.

"Oh?" Raizen chuckled.

"I'll gladly be the bearer of bad news." Yomi stated. "Your dog had miserably lost to Makai's leader. The Reikai leader's symbol of power has been safely delivered to its rightful owner."

"Even if he has the Quill of Life, Koenma is nothing but an empty vessel. His body will soon crumble." Satotsu triumphantly said.

"Not really. His faithful Reikai Tantei retrieved his soul already. I believe they are rushing towards the boarders now where Ayame's waiting for them." Yomi countered.

"Looks like the final laugh is with our rag tag team of unlikely comrades." Mukuro added.

"The lady should go first." Yomi said. Mukuro coldly smiled and disappeared from their side. She soon appeared behind Enma Daioh. Her left arm outsretched to Satotsu and then she motioned in a manner as if she was cutting something. Satotsu noticed that a piece of his clothing had just been sliced and yellow light separated him from Enma.

"Your abilities were always troublesome Mukuro." Raizen commented.

"Everything is troublesome for you Raizen." Mukuro countered.

"Oi, if you do move a bit, expect that arm of yours to be cut. Mukuro had just cut the space between you and your precious ex-leader." Raizen explained.

"Pitiful. I can always run around."

"I am afraid that is no longer an option." Yomi said as he appeared behind Satotsu, his hand was a few inches from grabbing the sacred guardian's neck.

"Tch...we need not fight at all." Raizen proclaimed as he sat down, he crossed his arms on his chest. "You now, I was having the best sleep in my paradise and you lot had to ruin it. Some paradise you give out."

And all good things must come to an end. Enma Daiou had to admit, this was checkmate.

Genkai sighed when he saw Yusuke and the rest of his team (less the Mazoku) on their way back to the boarder. There was no need for Yukinaya's assistance anymore since they were accompanied by Sanzu himself. After sealing the boulder that kept Izanami from bringing havoc again.

"You did well Genkai-sama, Toguro-sama." He said. "You may go back to your gate. We can take care of things from here." He instructed.

"Ah well, the souls of the departed should go back to where they belong." Genkai commented. He then looked at Yusuke. "Don't you dare follow me anytime soon you hear? I'll chase you out if I ever see your smug face here again."

"Shut it hag! I won't die anytime soon." Yusuke shouted.

Kurama on the other hand coldly passed them. He carefully held Koenma's soul on his hands. Yusuke need not ask for he knew that they needed to hurry. Saving Koenma was just the first part of their mission. Now, they had to save Botan too and Koenma might be the only chance they have at saving her. Sanzu followed Kurama.

"I'll see you soon hag. We still need to save Botan." Yusuke said sadly.

"It was nice seeing you Genkai." Kuwabara added. They both followed their comrades. Hiei merely nodded at her and then quickly made his way to join his team.

Yukinaya sighed in relief. They were able to retrive Koenma's soul and stopped a potential catastrophe from happening. However, it cost the precious life of her mistress. Karasu hovered over Yukinaya. They both watched the team hurried towards the boarder. Karasu pitied his friend. He knew that Kurama was livid but that would be the last of his worries.

"Ah I guess my services is no longer needed." Karasu said. Yukinaya looked up to him.

"You know, we might need an efficient messenger soon. I'll make sure to recommend you to my mistress when she comes back." Yukinaya replied.

"Messenger? Geez. I was a proud thief before and now I'll be reduced to a menial job. I'll think about it." Karasu responded with a smile.

Maya was afraid and confused but she chose to be with Keiko and the rest of the ladies inside the woods.

The red-head girl called Hinageshi and the woman called Ayame began drawing a huge circle on the ground. Inside the huge circle, the created a five-point star. The blue-haired girl named Yukina began lighting torches around the circle.

"Yukimura-san, ever since this happened, I've always wanted to ask, what are they? Those creatures that appeared." She left one question to herself, afraid of what she would learn about her beloved Shuichi.

"Do you believe ghosts and demons?" Keiko asked.

"Of course I do. That was how Shuichi and I met. I told him I could see things when were in middle school. I was always fascinated into the occult." Maya answered.

"Those two, Ayame and Hinageshi are soul reapers, shinigami. That man they are putting in the middle is the leader of Reikai, the one who judges the souls in the after life. The rest you have seen today are demons with the exception of Kuwabara." Keiko answered calmly.

"When you say demons, does that include Urameshi-san?" Maya inquired.

"Yusuke is half-demon. He had an ancestor who mated with a demon. Your Shuichi however is full-blooded one." Keiko stressed.

"That can't be?" Maya said with a nervous laugh. "Shuichi is not as cold as that fox-humanoid that we saw earlier."

"That is Shuichi's true form. If I remember Botan's account before, his name was Youko Kurama, a famous demon thief in Makai. When he was mortally wounded, he escaped Makai and entered the body of an unborn child. Kurama's spirit lays dormant inside Shuichi's body." Keiko explained.

Before Maya could ask further questions, Yusuke and the rest of his team arrived. They were accompanied by another handsome being. Maya watched the silver haired fox who stood before Ayame. After he had handed the orb to the woman, the silver hair slowly faded, replaced by rich red strands. His golden eyes shifted to emerald ones. Shuichi Minamino was back and Maya saw him transform before her. What she saw confirmed the story that Keiko related. Maya had wanted to run towards him but Keiko held her hand.

Soon a barrier appeared in the circle. The handsome being holding a scythe began reciting incantations and the orb entered the body of the man laying in the midst of the circle. Slowly, the man's eyes began to open. He lifted his hand as if trying to confirm that he's alive. They were all surprised when he immediately bolted up.

"Botan!" He shouted.

SIX MONTHS LATER

It was the deities who exacted judgment on Enma and Satotsu. The cruelest punishment was given to them. They were sealed in the caves of Iwadayo. Sanzu was the one who sealed them inside for he was one of the few who can hold back Izanami who might seize every opportunity to escape.

Koenma was reinstated as king of Reikai. Hiei returned to Makai with Mukuro and Yomi. The balance in Makai was been reinstated the Makai Tournament shall be continued. Yusuke and Keiko decided to postpone their wedding for the mean time. It was not proper, especially now that they were grieving for their loss.

It has been six months since Botan sacrificed herself to save everyone.

After Enma and Satotsu were punished, Koenma begged the deities to retrieve Botan. But the hard facts came straight from the might Izanagi. Nothing can be done to return Botan. She has eternally joined the waters of the river. Sanzu had offered to be put to sleep again in exchange for Botan but not even bringing his body back to the waters can save Botan.

What she did was just a one way ticket in. There was no way out from what she did.

She's gone.

Sanzu has been appointed by the deity Izanagi as the new deity of the shinigami. He would be taking the post his mistress had left. Holding on to her scythe, he promised himself he'd protect her legacy and exercise his full power over the river. Yukinaya and Karasu had become his assistants.

And since taking the place of his mistress, he had a frequent visitor in his office. He could not deny this man passage.

Maya noticed that Shuichi was never the same since the incidents from six months ago. He became cold and aloof. He'd always look away as if wishing he was in another place. The man rarely smiled and rarely showed attention to her anymore. The loss of the person named Botan had this huge effect on him, even on Urameshi-san and Yukimura-san who had decided to postpone their wedding.

She felt the pang of rejection when he and Shuichi were having dinner one time. She was cheerfully talking about her day when suddenly, Shuichi stood from his seat. He stepped out of the restaurant and walked over the flower shop across the street. After leaving some money on their table, she ran after him. She saw him buy a boquet of red and purple flowers. Maya was about to tell him how sweet he was when she heard him say something...

"Botan." He said. His voice was filled with pain and anguish. The flowers he bought were infact peonies, botan in Japanese.

Heartbroken, she ran away. She hoped that Shuichi would notice her absence but when she turned back, she saw him still holding the bouquet near his heart. That event led her to talk to Kuwabara's sister, Shizune. Shizune was more than kind enough to tell her the bitter truth.

"Botan was a shinigami." Shizune began. " She was also a close friend to all of us. She may not be from this realm but she has always been a faithful friend. She and Kurama had always been close especially after the Dark Wold Tournament. All of us knew that whay they felt for each other was beyond friendship. Kurama knew of it but Botan was the more clueless one. We really didn't know what happened but she suddenly decided to accept the post of being the deity of death. In Reikai, if you become a deity, you are discouraged to leave your post and intreact with beings from other realms." Shizune explained.

"I over heard a conversation between Shuichi and the woman called Ayame. She said that this Botan was supposed to meet Shuichi six years ago but she didn't because this Botan saw him with another woman." Maya added.

"It could be that Kurama wanted to tell his feelings for Botan already but something must have happened. It can be a sensible reason as to why Botan didn't come. Like I said, she is the clueless one between the two. While it was fairly obvious to everyone that she was in love with Kurama, she'd be hell bent on denying that and would even argue that what she felt for him was just friendship." Shizune responded.

"I was that woman with Shuichi." Maya said. She felt Shizune steeled herself. "Shuichi already told me that she was waiting for someone but I refused to leave and confessed my feelings for him. I kissed him after my confession. Ayame-san said that Botan saw Shuichi kissing someone. It was me."

Unable to stop herself, Shizune slapped Maya's face hard. Maya was taken aback and felt her cheek go numb. She saw that teary eyes of Shizune. She slammed her fist on the table "Disappear from my sight and never show your face again to me." Shizune said and then she walked out.

She felt the gravity of her selfishness six years ago. Because of her, the people who she had become friends with through Shuichi had never seen another friend until the end of her life. Perhaps, it was her heartbrokenness that led her to accept the post to become a deity. Maya let the tears fall from her eyes.

Shuichi was grieving and she was partly to blame for that.

There was an old Japanese folklore about two women who appeared during Obon. They were carrying lanterns beatifully painted with peonies on it. The story revolves around the young student who fell in love for the daughter of his father's best friend. They would secretly meet each night until one day, the student fell ill. When the student regained his health, he had wanted to renew his romantic relationship with the woman but he learned that she had died. During Obon, he visited her grave. He heard footsteps approaching him. When he turned, it was the woman he loves and her maid. The woman said that she was alive and her aunt who opposed their relationship told her that he died. They renewed their relationship and each night, they met each other. One night, one of the student's servants peeked inside the student's room. He was horrified at what he saw. His master was sleeping with a skeleton and another skeleton was sitting against the wall. Consulting a buddhist priest, the priest placed charms around the house. The ghost of the student's deceased lover and her maid was unable to enter the house. The student was heartbroken. Afraid that their master would die, the servant removed the charms. The ghost were able to enter the house again. The next morning, the found the student had died with a peaceful smile etched on his face, beside him was a skeleton and their hands were intertwined.

Kurama had wished that he was that student. He'd be happy to go anywhere as long as he could be with Botan. The sad fact is, Botan's nowhere to be found. And so almost everyday, he found himself visiting the river Sanzu in Reikai. He would sit by its stream and watch it for countless hours. The new deity of death, Sanzu, had allowed him passage for he understood the grief Kurama was experiencing.

"My mistress has always been the prettiest when she smiles." Sanzu said. He had decided to join Kurama in his vigil by the river.

"She has always been radiant." Kurama agreed.

"She would always sit at your very spot every night. She would talk about random things, she would laugh by herself. Sometimes, she would cry as well. Her tears, mixing on my stream." Sanzu reminisced.

"Sanzu-san, do you know the folklore of the Botan Doro?" Kurama inquired.

"Yes. I know that story very well. However, you and I both know that Botan-sama would not wish for your death. She may have been called the deity of death but she loved life to the utmost. For her, death is an inevitable and painful parting that should only come on its right time." Sanzu replied.

"You read my thoughts." Kurama chuckled.

"Botan-sama would want you to live your life to the fullest." Sanzu adviced. "Do not wish for death to come to you soon. It'll make her cry even more." And with that thought, Sanzu left Kurama alone.

"Kurama."

Kurama openned his eyes and saw himself in a meadow filled with flowers. He quickly got up and looked around. This place was unfamiliar to him. He soon heard footsteps approaching him. Keeping his guard up, Kurama was prepared to attack. He looked to his side and was rendered speechless by what he saw.

Before her stood Botan wearing her pink Kimono. She was smiling at him. Her pale blue hair was gently sawying with the wind and her amethyst eyes held warmth.

"Botan..." He breathed. He quickly closed the gap between them and envelope her in a tight embrace.

"Ku-kurama, not so tight...I can't breathe." Botan gently protested.

"If this is a dream, please, don't let me wake up." Kurama said to her desperately.

"Kurama, I am not like that woman in Botan Doro." Botan replied. She pouted as she rested her head on his chest.

"I'm sorry...I'm sorry." Kurama said as he gritted his teeth. He began shaking in sadness, grief and anger at the same time.

"Ii ne Kurama. I never doubted you and the rest of the team. I just came here to say thank you for all you have done." Botan gently said. Kurama's hold of Botan tightened.

"I've got a lot to say to you. I told you we'd have a lengthy discussion." Kurama sternly said.

"I don't have the luxury of time Kurama. The deities were kind enough to grant me this wish. There's no need for you to explain. I think I know what you're going to say." Botan responded. She had also tightened her hold of Kurama. "You know, when you disappear, you kind of see your life flash before you. The what ifs and the what coulds." She added.

"But I won't let go without telling you how much I love you." Kurama said. Botan disentangled herself from their embrace. She placed both her hands on Kurama's cheeks and looked him straightly on his eyes. Kurama placed his own hands over Botan's. She tiptoed and placed a chaste kiss on Kurama's lips. "I know, I love you too Kurama." She said and then she bursted into tiny orb-like lights. Kurama tried his hardest not to shed any tears.

"It's not yet your time Kurama. Live and enjoy. I am happy to have been able to tell you what I had been keeping to myself."Botan's voice echoed.

"Botan, you aren't exactly hard to read. I kind of had an idea you felt the same way I do. I just wanted to make sure you do because I do not hold back." Kurama chuckled despite the pain he was feeling.

"As always, the logical one." Botan's voice teased. "This is the end of the road for me."

The tiny lights surrounded Kurama as if it was engulfing him in a warm embrace and then it disappeared.

Kurama bolted up from his bed. It was a dream. He gripped the sheet of his bed.

The deities must be unleashing their fury on him for all his transgressions.

"I know. I love you too Kurama." Her voice echoed on his head.

Perhaps it wasn't a punishment at all. As ironical as things could get, he at least had an opportunity to be with her one last time even if it was just in a dream. He decided that it was time to start his day. He still have to go to work and earn a living for himself.

As soon as Kurama was ready to leave, he checked his apartment one last time. He then stepped out of his apartment and was surprised by what he had seen on his doorstep.

A lantern and a bouquet of peonies.

"I'm not like that woman in Botan Doro." He remembered what she said to him in his dream. He took the bouquet and smiled. He smelled the flowers and then looked up the blue skies.

"It's not yet your time Kurama. Live and enjoy."

Kurama thought that it was easier said than done but if it was his deity's wish, he'd have to honor. Perhaps, if kept on living righteosuly, he might be rewarded in the next life. Maybe, just maybe, in that next lifetime, he and Botan can finally be together.

THE END

Author's Note:

I am so sorry it took me ages to end this story T^T. I was really busy at work. So much has happened and I was really really busy! I still haven't finished my thesis for graduate school but I was able to pass my licensure exam already ^^v I also got a promotion so it meant more responsibilities for me.

I am so sorry if I had to end my story this way. When I began writing Stand Still, I always had a bittersweet ending in mind for this. And also, I had planned this to last 10 chapters only.

Words are not enough to tell you how grateful I am for all your support and wonderful reviews! I know I had been in hiatus for so long. My works are mostly unedited so please forgive me for any grammar, erroneos spelling and typograhical errors you had encountered while reading my work. I don't have a Beta editor and also, I usually write in between breaks at work ^^v It was only today that I was able to sit on the final chapter uniterrupted. I sincerely hope that you enjoyed this fanfiction as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Thank you, thank you, thank you so much! Mata Konda Na!

NOTES:

Obon is the Japanese month of remembering their departed loved ones.

Botan Doro is the Japanese folklore that was mentioned in a portion of this chapter. It was two versions. The older version had a widowed samurai and the second had a student. I used the second version for this fanfiction.