Magic
by ARazHi
[email protected]
Outside, the sun is just beginning to set, casting beautiful orange-pink tints
on the sky.
Inside, Kurama's once pristine apartment look like a tornado had just hit it.
Clothes are thrown everywhere mixed with bottles and cans of soda and junk food.
"I dunno, Kurama. I don't feel very comfortable with this," came
Yusuke's voice.
"Hn!" came a more irritated voice.
"Stop complaining, we have barely two hours to get to Reikai," Kurama
said.
"Where's Botan anyway? Isn't she supposed to be here now?" Kuwabara
adjusted the collar of his shirt.
***
In Shizuru's room, Shizuru, Keiko, and Yukina are busy dressing up while Botan
sit on the bed reading a magazine.
"Where are Yusuke-kun and the others?" Yukina asked.
"They're at Kurama-kun's. Koenma-sama asked Kurama-kun to make sure they're
dressed nicely," Botan answered ^_^.
"Botan-chan, are you going to dress up when we get to Reikai?" Keiko
asked.
"Iie."
Shizuru and Yukina paused and turned to Botan.
"You are going to the ball, aren't you?" Shizuru asked.
"Iie."
"WHAT?!" Keiko, Yukina, and Shizuru exclaimed.
"Ferry girls and onis are not invited to the ball..."
"But the Reikai tanteis were invited, how come---" Keiko wondered.
"It has always been that way," Botan shrugged.
The three other girls looked at each other, no wonder Botan wasn't being her
usual cheerful self.
"But this ball is for Koenma-sama," Yukina said. "Couldn't he
have invited you?"
"Enma-sama was the one who invited the guests..."
"And he invited Yusuke and the others?"
"They've had their differences in the past but---"
"Enough!" Shizuru marched up to Botan and pulled her to her feet.
"You're going to that ball and that's final!"
"What?! But---"
"No buts!"
The three girls pushed her down the chair in front of the mirror.
"We're going to fix you up so good no one in Reikai will recognize
you," Shizuru said, her eyes sparkling.
***
Yusuke finally caught sight of the imposing Reikai palace. "I still can't
believe they'd ditch us like that."
"Something must have come up," Kurama said.
"Let's get going, I'm getting hungry," Kuwabara grumbled as he began
to walk faster.
"I refuse to go there looking like this," Hiei stated and glared at
them, daring them to contradict him.
The four guys are dressed in their best formal wear and Hiei is clearly the most
uncomfortable. But if the four of them didn't go to the ball to support Koenma
they will never hear the end of it. After all, this is Koenma's big day. How big
can proposing marriage to a girl be? It's the next big thing to the wedding
itself!
Yusuke and Kurama exchanged looks and without another word, they each grab one
of Hiei's arms and carried him with them all the way to the palace.
***
Koenma stood in front of the mirror and stared at himself. He sighed. The grand
ballroom must be full of guests now. Most of them are beautiful women hoping
against hope that their life will change that night when the prince and
soon-to-be king of Reikai asks her to be his queen.
"Is something wrong, Koenma-sama?" George asked.
"I'm fine. Maybe just a bit nervous," he admitted, quietly.
He looked at himself in the mirror again, double checking to make sure that his
Fuumakan is not in his mouth. Satisfied, he forced a smile and walked out his
room.
A murmur rose in the crowd the moment they caught sight of him. Beautiful women
dressed in their best gowns and formals tried to catch his eye and shot him
smiles, some shy, others confident.
His father stood up and motioned for him to come closer.
"Tonight is the night when my son will choose his bride. A woman who will
soon be the queen of Reikai," Enma smiled at him then turned back to the
crowd. "Let the celebration begin!"
He and his father took their seats. Kurama walked up beside him and began
reading the names of his prospective brides. The women stepped forward when
their names are called. They smiled at him, doing their best to look nice,
sweet, and attractive all at the same time. However, some of them clearly could
not resist the tempatation to shoot furtive glances at Kurama.
He sat back and resisted the urge to sigh. He already knew of someone who could
be nice, sweet, and attractive all at the same time without trying.
Unfortunately, she isn't here.
<How can he ask me to choose one from all these women? I've never even met
them! Never even talked to them! Haven't I given up enough of myself to my job?!
Can't I at least have a freedom to choose who I want to marry? And not choose
from a group of women my father picked for me?!> he could feel himself
getting angrier as his silent tirade continued.
He glanced sideways at his father. His jaw tightened with determination.
<I'll tell him. I'll tell all of them who I want. And that who I want isn't
here.>
Kurama had finished introducing the women without him noticing. The music began
to play and he stood up to make his announcement which will undoubtedly get him
in lots of trouble afterwards.
At the edge of the crowd he caught sight of Yusuke and Kuwabara looking at the
women around them and trying not to be too obvious about it. Beside Yusuke is
Hiei, glaring at everything and everyone around him. Kurama is walking towards
the three, politely weaving his way out of several women who tried to corner
him.
He took several steps forward. Some of the conversation died down as they crowd
wait breathlessly for his announcement.
At the corner of his eye, he saw Keiko, Shizuru, and Yukina enter the ballroom.
The three girls are grinning as though they have some kind of big secret waiting
to be unveiled.
He looked at the entrance to the ballroom just in time to see a beautiful young
woman in a pink off-shoulder gown. Her blue hair pulled back with several
tendrils framing her face. Botan.
He didn't even notice his feet touching the floor as he walked towards her. He
took her hand. The music began to play.
"May I have this dance?"
Botan nodded and he led her to the dance floor.
Take me to your heart,
show me where to start.
Let me play the part of your first love...
All the stars are out
every wish is ours to make, my love...
Pity those who wait,
trust in love to fade,
finding out too late that they've lost it...
Never letting go,
They will never know the ways of love...
They began to dance slowly to the music.
"I'm glad you came," he told her, softly.
Botan pulled back slightly to gaze at Koenma's hazel eyes. His nearness was
making her heart beat faster. She smiled at him, unable to speak.
Koenma grinned and pulled her closer.
Got to believe in magic,
tell me how two people find each other
in a world that's full of strangers
Got to believe in magic,
Something stronger than the moon above
'cause it's magic when two people fall in love...
"Botan..."
"What is it, Koenma-sa--?"
He placed a finger on her lips, cutting her off before she finished the
"sama". "Just Koenma."
"Ha--hai, Koenma-sa..." Botan's voice trailled off and he gave her a
look of mock warning.
His arm around her tightened a bit. "I--" he was clearly nervous now.
Botan could feel his heart pick up more speed. She brushed back several wisps of
hair off his forehead.
Koenma closed his eyes and tried to calm his racing heart. He opened them again
and found himself drowning in Botan's purple gaze.
"I love you," he whispered, before he lose his nerve.
I may never know
why I need you so,
all I need to know is this feeling...
Handle it with care,
We were born to share this dream my love...
He dropped on one knee and whipped
out a jewel studded engagement ring. "Marry me, Botan. Please say you'll be
my wife." He gazed up at her, hopefully.
Botan's jaw along with nearly everyone else's dropped.
Time seem to slow down then complete stop as Botan stare at Koenma. Shocked and
surprised. Botan blushed hotly. She could feel everyone's eyes on her, waiting
eagerly for her answer. Others are glaring at her with envy or jealousy. Koenma
tightened his grip on her hand. She gazed at his hazel eyes and everything
around them melted away. It was just her and him. Koenma and Botan.
"I--"
"Please say yes..."
Botan crouched down.
Koenma cupped her face in his hand, "I was so scared to tell you before how
I feel. But now, the thought of spending my life with anyone else but
you..." he shook his head, "I love you, Botan, so much more than you
could possibly ever know." Koenma gently brushed away a tear that spilled
out of Botan's eye without her noticing.
Botan gave him a teary smile. "Ai shiteru, Koenma." She closed her
eyes and hugged him tightly.
Koenma grinned and hugged her back. After several seconds, he pulled her back to
her feet and slipped the ring onto the finger. "It looks good on you,"
he said, holding her hand, admiringly. "Perfect fit." He smiled at
her, his eyes sparkling.
"It's beautiful."
"Not even half as beautiful as you are," he told her softly. He pulled
her closer as another song began to play.
We're the king and queen of hearts,
Hold me when the music starts;
All my dreams come true
When I dance with you.
He wrapped his arms around her waist
and Botan encircled her arms around his neck. She leaned her head on his
shoulder.
Promise me you're mine tonight,
I've been waiting, lyin' tonight;
While the lights are right,
I'll never let you go.
"Thank you," he whispered
to Botan's ear.
"For what?"
"For making me happy. For always being here for me," he gently
caressed her cheek. "For everything."
Did I dream that we danced forever
In a wish that we made together
On a night that I prayed would never end?
You know it's not my imagination
Or a part of the orchestration,
Love was here at the culmination
I'm the king and you're the queen of hearts.
He tipped her face up.
Time seem to stand still as the gaze at each others eyes.
In that moment, their lips met in a sweet, soft, passionate kiss that held the
promise of forever.
Time will pass the tears will fall
But someday we'll both recall
Moments made of these
Golden memories.
~ o w a r i ~
Author's note:
The songs in this fic, "Got To Believe In Magic" and "King &
Queen Of Hears" are by David Pomeranz. This fic is inspired by his songs
and written after I've heard the songs over and over again for last 3 or 4 days
^_^
Start: June 17, 2000 2:16 PM
Finished: June 17, 2000 4:19 PM