Yu Yu Hakusho:Kōrudokēsu

Chapter 23 Witness Protection

Two enclosed ski lifts made their way up the side of the snowy mountaintop at an abandoned ski resort. The carts were old, yet functional, and spacious enough to sit four at a time while still offering a panoramic view of the mountainside and all the rich evergreens which grew through the thick snow which stayed on the resort year round.

Occupying one cart was the sole son of the ruler of Spirit Realm, accompanied by two experienced members of the Spirit World Special Defense Force named Seso and Dodin respectively. Atop the mountain waiting for them, was the remainder of the Defense Force, an officer named Shigari and their leader, Captain Ootake. Both of whom were assigned to look after the asset to the case of the disappearing physics and the holes in the Makai Barrier.

In the opposite cable car, ascending parallel to Koenma and his guards, sat the former Spirit Detective, Romano Hideshi and his lover Botan. Security was offered to both of them, however, it was deemed unecessary by both parties due to Romano Hideshi being far more powerful than anyone on the Force.

Cuddling against the warm body of the man she loved, Botan had blissfully decided to take a short nap, resting her head against Hideshi's all-too-familiar chest. Hideshi gladly allowed her to rest next to him for two reasons: 1. he loved her unconditionally and would do anything for her, and 2. He needed her extra body heat to stay warm against the bone-chilling temperatures of the abandoned ski resort.

As they approached the top of the line, Hideshi lightly nudged Botan awake, as he usually did whenever he would be the first to awaken at home. She stirred against his chest, smiling as she usually did while blissfully sleeping next to him. "Yes Hideshi?" she yawned.

"Botan, I need you to wake up now. We're approaching the top of the mountain." Hideshi told her, watching and waiting for her beautiful eyes to open for him once again. "Remember, I need you to stay close to me, ok?"

"Mmm... Why? Because you think it's 'dangerous'?" Botan said slyly as her eyes began to open narrowly, allowing her to peer up at her now short-haired lover.

"No, because I'm freezing my balls off up here..." Hideshi shivered only half-sarcastically.

"...Yea... Me too..." Botan agreed and huddled her head back close to Hideshi's chest.

"...Botan... You don't have balls..." Hideshi stated with a tone which matched the awkwardness of the cute, blue-haired girl's words.

"Oh really? And how would you know?" Botan asked, trying to mimic Hideshi's sly sense of humor as she spoke to him.

"Because I've already seen you completely naked..." Hideshi stated blankly, conveying how blatantly obvious the answer to her remark was.

"Oh... Right..." she said as she closed her eyes again, wanting to avoid another awkward situation like that.

As the two cable cars finnally reached the peak of the snow-coated mountain, Captain Ootake and Shigari stood at attention to receive the Spirit Detective and the Prince of Spirit Realm. "Lord Koenma sir, we've been expecting you." Captain Ootake proclaimed with a salute over the brow of his scarred face. The shade his hand cast down over his face helped to somewhat conceal the black tatoos which had been emblazoned upon his skin in an earlier case involving Romano Hideshi.

"I'm sure you have been..." Koenma sighed, displeased that Captain Ootake was the one receiving him. There was still a great deal of bad blood between himself and the leader of the Defense Force ever since the incident in the cave during the Sensui case.

Seso and Dodin advanced from within the car to either side of the ruler, standing at attention to either side of the ruler, returning his salute. "At ease gentlemen..." Ootake dismissed the two footsoldiers, transfixing his gaze back towards Koenma once again just before the second car opened up to unveil Romano Hideshi and Botan. Shigari quickly rushed towards the ajar doors, standing at attention for the Spirit Detective and his significant other.