Yu Yu Hakusho: The line between the sky

Chapter 14: Restore

Kurama was curious seeing Koenma and Yusuke's reaction.
"Is there somethings wrong Koenma Sama??" Kurama asked strangely.
Koenma almost back off from his feet but manage to resolve its uneasiness. Yusuke in the other hand, give him pretentious smile.
"Ku-kurama, why are you here??" Koenma spoke nervously.
"I'm just here to give back the stroll." Kurama handed the stroll to Koenma and he immediately takes it.
"Would you mind to excuse me for a while, Kurama?? I still have a lot of things to do." Koenma seriously turn away from Kurama and to the others.
"Wa-wait Koenma Sama!" Yusuke chase the young ruler.
"Huh?? What's really going on here??" Kurama ask his friends again.
"We didn't know either." Botan respond. Kurama felt that there is something strange that the young ruler hiding from him.
"Recently he become a busy and anxious, just ignore his behavior. I'm sure that he will settle it later on." Botan gives him genuine smile.
"I'm hungry guys; can we eat while waiting for them??" Kuwabara slightly lower his back.
"Let's go!!" Botan cheerfully respond. Kuwabara and Botan started to walk away, Kurama look at Hiei seriously and he seems have doubt about Botan's explanation.
"Kurama?? Why you became a thief when you are still in your Yokai form??" Hiei broke the stare, giving him sudden question.
"Why you asked??" – Kurama
"Just wanted to know." -Hiei.
Kurama lower his gaze and take a deep thought about it.
"I'm looking and searching for something that until now I don't know what is. It's sounds funny right??" Kurama smiled back together with his answer.
"What do you think it is?? Power??" – Hiei asked again his longtime friend.
"I don't think so. I felt it was a very important thing and the only thing that can make me whole and complete but when I become a human I tried to stop thinking about, it just a part of my past that I have to accept." Kurama laugh a little.
"Such a weird." Hiei knew that there's no need to worry about Kurama's past, he's not seeking for power anymore but a happy and kind human who ready to protect his family and friend.
"Kurama, Hiei, let's go." Botan call them from the distant.
"Hai! Hai! We're coming." Kurama respond making their way to the others.
Yusuke was still chasing the young ruler hoping to stop him from his plan, but end up in the front of Enma daiou chamber. Koenma, in the act of knocking, surprise when the door open.
"I know you will come here, Koenma." Enma daiou greeted.
"Father!" Koenma and Yusuke bow down to their feet to give the king respect and greetings.
"It's nice to see you Enma daiou" Yusuke added.
"I expecting your visit, Koenma stand up and give me the jewel." Koenma immediately followed him.
"Father, we must save the Reikai and the Ningenkai." Koema straightly brought out his concern.
"Are you really wanted to take the risk?? Even someone's soul who'd be exterminates??" Enma daiou warn him but Koenma already made up his mind.
Yusuke was trembling; he didn't want things to be done from what's Koenma's perception. He needed to stop him, and he must save Botan's spirit whatever it takes even the only solution is to fight the fallen.
"Forgiveness my rudeness Enma daiou, but I'm willing to offer my own life to fight the fallen if ever they escape. Just please don't involve the priestess in this, she must stay from where she is." Yusuke plead the king hoping to settle the thing by his words.
"You wanted to protect the priestess from her punishment, Yusuke?? But you cannot change the things that needed to be done in order to protect the Ningenkai, Yusuke. I thought you already know that." Enma daiou respond.
Yusuke felt frustrated, inflicted and hurt. He grasps his pants composing himself from anger.
"I think you already knew who she is, right Yusuke??" Enma added. Yusuke look at him and pain cannot hide in his eyes.
"Enma daiou, she didn't deserve to be punished. She protects the Ningenkai, compensate her own life." Yusuke firmly respond.
"Fulfilling Yokai's wish and desire as well, Yusuke." Enma knew Yusuke's though and sentiment for his friend.
"Do you think loving someone is crime?? For her to be condemn from it??" Yusuke implement his word.
"Father, I don't understand what Yusuke is trying to say." Koenma distraught.
Enma enlighten the jewel, giving it some temporary power for Koenma to understand the situation. He handed the bright jewel to Koenma, he take it slowly.
A bright light consume Koenma and he saw a certain blue haired priestess in front of him giving him a warm and genuinely smile. Koenma knew who she is, and same as Yusuke she welcomes him to her forsaken memories. Koenma saw everything from Botan's past and he cannot believe what he saw, almost betraying his trustful and favorite deity. He fall down to his knees couldn't believe was he seen.
"Bo-botan??!" Koenma was still in his shock state. Yusuke walk forward to his place grabbing the collar of his shirt.
"N-now Koenma Sama, tell me!! Does Botan deserve this kind of thing?? Does Kurama will be happy if he found out everything about it?? Does the two of them deserve this kind of punishment for loving each other?? Now tell me Koenma?? Is this justice?? For the sake of human kind?? Aim I too selfish for being a human entrusted my fate to a gentle selfless woman who only desired is to be with someone she loved?. No!! Koenma Sama!! We are just coward putting this burden in her shoulder, forsaken her in this kind of punishment that she didn't deserve!! This jewel is just a crap, who cannot even give a right justice and judge!. Bo-botan was –" Tears started to forming into Yusuke eyes same as Koenma who still in his unbelief state. "Botan is a cheerful, kind and innocent, and she is our friend, KOENMA SAMA!!!" Yusuke shaking the young ruler into his grip. Koenma became speechless and no words came out from his mouth, and only his tears express his feelings.
"Then let Botan, decide her own fate and destiny. I will give her the power to judge her own justice." Enma spoke seriously.
"W-what do you mean? Enma daiou??" Yusuke let go Koenma, giving his attention to the ruler.
"I will restore her memories back to her and letting her decide and create her own justice." Enma respond.
"B-but Botan was selfless, I'm sure she will choose to save the Ningenkai just like before." Koenma cleared his mind and manage to speak out.
"We will give her time to decide, and by that moment that is you're turn to prove her how strong you are to protect her and the same time the Ningenkai, if she saw that she can entrusted her job to you, I'm sure that she will choose to be happy with you." -Enma
Hope can be seen in Yusuke and Koenma's face.
"But if once again she chooses to offer her life for the sake of all. Her entire existence will be disappearing together with the Jewel and the sealing of abyss will be permanently close." Enma turn back to them, waiting for the respond.
"We will not letting it happened, Enma daiou.
"Is that fair enough Yusuke??" -Enma
Yusuke nodded as a respond.
Kurama, Botan, Hiei and Kuwabara were happily chatting together about their lives when Hinageshi appeared in front of them, looking for Botan.
"Botan, Enma daiou wanted to see you." Hinageshi spoke up her purpose.
"But why??" Botan ask her.
"I don't know." Hinageshi respond.
"I'm nervous, Enma daiou rarely look for me unless it's important." Botan stare her friends.
"Don't worry, Botan, It will be fine." Kurama assured her with smile.
"Thank you, Kurama. So see you later guys." Botan stood up make her way into Enma daiou's chamber.
When she arrived, nervous cannot separate from her and it's seems strange that she was trembling. She knock and the door opened, revealing Koenma, Yusuke and Enma daiou standing at the center of the room, seeing her friends she felt safe and secure.
"Botan, good to see you here." Enma spoke first giving surprise to her.
"I-its nice to see you too Enma daoiu." She bow down to her knees giving respect the ruler. Koenma walked towards her, reaching to hug her.
"Botan, I'm sorry." After Koenma discovering about Botan past, he felt sorry about her, regretting the decision he make just like Yusuke told him. Blush cannot hide from Botan's face it was so sensational that he hug her.
"W-why?? Koenma Sama??" Koenma didn't respond just tighten the hug. "I can't breathe Koenma sama." She struggled from his hug, when Koenma felt her discomfort he untangled himself from her.
"Botan, I'm so sorry for being so selfish, forgive me." Koenma lowered his head.
"I-I can't understand what you're talking about Koenma sama." Botan jittery look at Koenma, it was so unusual to happen. She looks at Yusuke for searching an answer, but he avoiding her stare, frustration can be seen in him.
"Botan, listen to me carefully." Enma spoke up again. Botan take a gulp. "I will restore your memories back when you are still living as a human, in other word, when you are still alive." Botan grow up her eyes from what she heard."
"B-but it's not necessary for a deity to dig back itself past and there is a consequents awaits, right Enma daiou??" Botan nervously respond. "I don't want yet to pass the afterlife, Enma daiou, I'm fine here with my friends. I'll promise that I will improve my service as a deity and giving my best to contribute more knowledge and skill." Giving back previous past life to a deity means delivering him or her to the afterlife, that's why Botan was so scared. "I don't want yet to pass, please Enma daiou." Botan plead.
"Calm down, Botan, it's not yet the time for you to pass the afterlife, but if you ask for it later on, we are willingly to give it to you." Enma stated. That's the point why Botan is frightened, what if she discovered her past life and she change up her mind, wanted to rest. Botan stare again her friends at the corner but them just simply lowering heads, avoiding her eyes.
"Is this essential Enma daiou?? And why??" Botan ask still frightened.
"I want you to make a decision after you restore your human memories. I want you judge your own justice." Enma daiou amplified his word firmly. Botan started to fell discomfort and anxious about the situation, so many questions hunt her, adding some chill into her spine. She takes a deep breath trying her best to calm down.
"You have no choice, Botan. It's necessary to be done, in order to assure the future of Ningenkai, Reikai and Makai as well." -Enma
Another question builds up in her mind. What kind of things that she needed to settle after she regains her human memories. Botan take another deep breath.
"I- I'll take it now, Enma daiou, for the sake of all, I didn't know what will happened but I trusted my friends that they will never leave me alone." Botan words pierce into Yusuke and Koenma heart, feeling guilty that they almost betraying their friend.
"Well done, Botan. I know that you are strong, kind and innocent, that's why I entrusted the jewel in your care, it knows you and you know it very well."
Enma slowly handed the jewel into Botan's hand. When the jewel touch Botans palm, a blindly light consume the whole place.
Botan found herself into a bright place, surrounding with trees and flowers making her relax and calm.
"I found you." The priestess Botan from her past memories appeared in front of her, wearing the most beautiful smile. "You're here; I'm not alone anymore, thank you." The priestess Botan hug her tightly and in instant she saw all her past memories,. The shrine that she where lives, her home, the beautiful warm smile of those people who lives there together with her. How strong, maidenly, gentle she was, how she meet a certain Yokai fox with beautiful eyes and silver long hair, how fierce she is in order to protect her beloved Ningenkai. The best part of her memories was when she was with the Yokai Fox who confess his feelings to her, the love making they made and mark he does to claim her as his mate. Passion that they shared that night how the nature responds to the love they give to each other. Happiness that seems eternity and kisses that promising forever. Those dreams and desire that she wanted to fulfill, to be with the Yokai she loved the most. But the most painful was her punishment to commit the forbidden love, and she died alone without someone to her side. It was so painful asking another life with the one she loved the most. It's so painful, it's hurt so much that she almost tear apart, she wanted to scream and to cry into her heart content. All the pain suffering and loneliness come back to her entire being that pierce into the deep of her spirit. She doesn't want to believe her unfair past, her forsaken life, and injustices. The light from the jewel disappeared as Botan restored all of her past memories. Down to her knees, still unbelief from everything she saw, what happened to her, starring her trembling hands.
"Bo-botan??" Yusuke slowly walked towards her.
"Yu-yusuke!! I don't want to believe this!! I will not accept this!!" Botan holds herself sobbingly looking at Yusuke.
Yusuke quickly hold Botan to his arm. The blue haired cannot compose her tears anymore; she cry out her pain and suffering, miserable and hurt can be heard from her voice.
"I don't want to be alone anymore! It's painful! It's hurt!!" Botan grasping Yusuke shirt with flooding tears from her eyes.
Yusuke almost cried, from the pain seeing his friend in miserable situation. Koenma started to cry, cannot compose himself anymore.
"I'm so sorry Botan, I'm sorry!!" The only word Koenma manages to blurt out.
"I don't want to do it again, Yusuke! I can't!! Please! I don't want die alone, again!!" Botan continuously cried out into her hearts content. She lifts up her head looking to Yusuke's eyes, her sobbing suddenly lower down. "Let me see, Youko! I want to see him again! Please, I just want to see him." Yusuke turn away his eyes but tears started to fall down from his eyes.
"I-I'm sorry Botan." Yusuke embrace her again, trying his best to comfort his friend.
"Botan we will give you a time, you have to decide, needed to choose, and you know of it right." Enma strongly stated.
Botan felt angry and frustrated hearing the same things about the same issue again. She pushes Yusuke and firmly stands up, wipe up her tears giving Enma daiou a firm glare.
"I don't want to do it anymore! I'm tired! But I don't want to give up again this kind of life that I have!" Botan opened her palms exposing the jewel. "I hate this thing, I really hate it!" Botan emphasize her word throwing the jewel into Enma, he catch it.
"I know that you are still confuse from all the things that happened, I'm not forcing you to give your answer now, but I will give you time to think about it again, but remember that we don't have enough time to waste, Priestess Botan, Ningenkai, Reikai and even Makai needed you." Enma stated.
Botan gripped her hands from Enma's statement. She summoned her oar preparing herself to fly away and leave the room.
"Wa-wait Botan, please don't leave!" Koenma tried to stop her, but she stare her angrily.
"Botan, don't let this hatred consume you! Do you believe in kindness right!!??" Yusuke grab Botan arms.
"Do you believe in self-worth?? Right, Yusuke?" She didn't even look back at her friend who has been shock from her respond. A short sentence but a big word as well. Botan climb up her oar
"Aren't you grateful that you manage to fulfill a dream and desire of a certain Yokai fox, Botan?? He's human now." Enma's word almost make Botan froze. "The decision are still in your hands, judge your own justice, Priestess Botan Kumiko." Enma turned away from them.
"It's no difference after all, I'm going to die the same as before."
Botan flew away from the room, leaving some drops of tears behind. Yusuke and Koenma standing behind depressed.