yu yu hakusho | I Want To Know the Shape Your Shadow Makes | Keiko/Botan
Title: I Want To Know the Shape Your Shadow Makes
Pairing(s): Keiko/Botan (background Yusuke/Keiko)
Wordcount: 1180
Summary: Keiko liked to think of herself as an understanding girl. After all, she had put up with Yusuke for over ten years- how could she be anything else? But even she had to draw the line somewhere.
Warning(s): it's (mostly) canon-compliant?
Disclaimer: I do not claim any ownership over Yu Yu Hakusho.
Notes: Nearly caught up with fic that I wanted to get posted! This was started around the same time I wrote the teeth behind that smile back in March, and finished not long after. I'm not sure where the title is from- it just popped into my head one day, and while it sounds like it should be from a poem, I haven't managed to find one that has those lines.
I don't remember the exact episode number, but this takes place during the Dark Tournament, specifically after Keiko, Botan, and Shizuru have a drink to toast the boys in their room.
I Want To Know the Shape Your Shadow Makes
Okay, enough was enough.
Keiko liked to think of herself as an understanding girl. After all, she had put up with Yusuke for over ten years- how could she be anything else? But even she had to draw the line somewhere.
She could understand one drink, to toast to their boys and what would hopefully be their victory. But this- this was most definitely more than one drink. Shizuru was giggling. Giggling. There were some things that were never meant to be seen. That was one of them.
Even Botan's cheeks were suspiciously flushed, although how the fine-boned girl could hold her liquor better than Shizuru was beyond her. Maybe Shizuru had started off her drinking early, and Keiko just hadn't noticed. That would make more sense.
Keiko sighed, and got to her feet. "Okay, that's enough for one night," she said, firmly plucking the can from Shizuru's hand. It was a testament to how sloshed she was that she didn't even put up a token protest.
She must be more worried about her brother than I thought, to get this drunk, Keiko realized. Shizuru wasn't the drinking type, not like Atsuko. She had to have a better reason than celebration to let out like this. Embarrassment slid down Keiko's spine, when she realized how long it had taken her to notice this. She wasn't the only one watching a loved one almost die again and again in this tournament.
"Come on, let's get you to bed," Keiko said, pushing the darker thoughts threatening to form in the back of her mind. She helped Shizuru to her feet- not without some difficulty, but she'd had practice with Yusuke's mother.
Shizuru fell asleep almost as soon as she touched the bed, not even pulling the blanket over herself. Smiling almost fondly at the slack expression on her face, Keiko grabbed the comforter off of the spare bed, drawing it over her. She paused, then dragged the trash can to the side of her bed as well. It was better to be safe than sorry, after all, and she didn't fancy trying to sleep with the scent of vomit soaking the carpet.
Now that she was done with Shizuru, Keiko turned her attention to her next task. Cringing at the cans piled around the room, she made her way over to Botan, who had managed to polish off another can while she was taking care of Shizuru.
"Botan," Keiko said firmly, her hands propped on her hips. "You need to stop, before you end up like Shizuru."
"Oh, you're so sweet, Keiko," Botan giggled. "But don't worry yourself, I'm not that drunk." To accentuate her statement, she made an exaggerated gesture with her arm.
"I can see that," Keiko said drily. "Come on, let's get you to bed too. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow."
"If you say so," Botan said with no little amount of cheer. She got to her feet- unsteadily, but with no help from Keiko. Not wanting to take her chances, Keiko took her arm, and began to steer the other girl towards her bed.
"Oh, Keiko, you're so nice," Botan said suddenly, giggling again. "Yusuke's so lucky to have a girl like you. Silly boy doesn't know what he's got."
Keiko stiffened. Yusuke...
Botan took advantage of her sudden immobility, and pulled her on to the bed with her. She overcompensated, and with an undignified squawk, Keiko ended up sprawled over the bed sheets.
"Whoops!" Botan giggled again. "Clumsy me!"
"It's alright," Keiko groaned, pushing herself to a sitting position. She eyes Botan. "We should probably get you out of those clothes. They can't be comfortable to sleep in."
"I don't think Yusuke would like that very much," Botan said, and giggled yet again.
"What?" Keiko asked, nonplussed. "What's Yusuke got to do with any of this?" Maybe she drank more than I thought. She had assumed that Shizuru had been the main cause of the quickly emptying cans, but she'd be the first to admit that she hadn't been keeping count.
Botan was staring at her, Keiko realized, and there was something very intent in those purple eyes. She shifted nervously. "Botan?" she asked, uncertain.
Slowly, Botan leaned forward, so close that Keiko could see her eyelashes, dark against her pale skin. She didn't move- couldn't move, truly, so caught up was she in the intensity of the other girl's stare.
"So lucky," Botan murmured, and her voice sent vibrations over Keiko's skin. She swallowed, her mouth dry. She attempted to say something- what?- but nothing came.
Then, ever so slowly, Botan cupped Keiko's face with gentle hands and kissed her.
For a moment, everything was still. Botan's lips were dry against her own, her breath ghosting over her skin. Her eyes, those deep, intense eyes, were closed, her eyelashes gentle shadows against her cheeks.
Then Keiko let her own eyes fall closed, and kissed her like a sigh. Slowly, languidly. The taste of alcohol was thick on her tongue, and Botan's hair slipped like silk through her fingers.
Keiko brushed her thumbs on the curve of her cheeks, and Botan gasped. She pulled back, breaking the kiss, her eyes impossibly wide.
"Keiko, I'm so sorry," she fumbled, suddenly sober- and how did that work? Keiko wondered. Was that even possible, in this world suddenly filled with impossible things? Yet her eyes were clear now, unfogged of alcohol, and her words as well. For the first time, she wondered what Botan was.
"I didn't mean- I would never," Botan continued, desperate, and Keiko silenced her with a finger against her lips.
"Shh," she said, smiling a soft smile. "It's alright. I didn't mind."
"But, Yusuke-" Botan protested.
"Is my best friend," Keiko said.
"But you love him," Botan said.
"Yes," Keiko answered, simply. She looked up then, met Botan's wide, panicked gaze straight on. "But that doesn't mean he's the only one I've ever cared about.
Botan stared, wordless, and this time it was Keiko who initiated the kiss. It was soft, sweet, but brief, and once more it was Botan who broke away first.
"I'm sorry, but- I can't," she said, breathlessly. "Not to Yusuke."
Keiko nodded once, in understanding. She'd expected that- had known how this would end the moment Botan had kissed her. That was just the kind of loyalty Yusuke inspired in those who dared to get close to him, herself most of all. She loved him for it, usually.
"I know," she said, looking away. "But- I want you to know something." She turned back to Botan, looking her straight in the eyes. "If- if I had met you first, you would have been the one I choose."
Botan didn't say anything- Keiko wasn't sure if she was even breathing. She just kept staring at her with that wide-eyed stare.
Keiko leaned over, and kissed her one last time, just a brief brushing of the lips. When she drew back, her smile was soft and sad.
"Goodnight, Botan," she said.
And both knew that was the end.
Pairing(s): Keiko/Botan (background Yusuke/Keiko)
Wordcount: 1180
Summary: Keiko liked to think of herself as an understanding girl. After all, she had put up with Yusuke for over ten years- how could she be anything else? But even she had to draw the line somewhere.
Warning(s): it's (mostly) canon-compliant?
Disclaimer: I do not claim any ownership over Yu Yu Hakusho.
Notes: Nearly caught up with fic that I wanted to get posted! This was started around the same time I wrote the teeth behind that smile back in March, and finished not long after. I'm not sure where the title is from- it just popped into my head one day, and while it sounds like it should be from a poem, I haven't managed to find one that has those lines.
I don't remember the exact episode number, but this takes place during the Dark Tournament, specifically after Keiko, Botan, and Shizuru have a drink to toast the boys in their room.
I Want To Know the Shape Your Shadow Makes
Okay, enough was enough.
Keiko liked to think of herself as an understanding girl. After all, she had put up with Yusuke for over ten years- how could she be anything else? But even she had to draw the line somewhere.
She could understand one drink, to toast to their boys and what would hopefully be their victory. But this- this was most definitely more than one drink. Shizuru was giggling. Giggling. There were some things that were never meant to be seen. That was one of them.
Even Botan's cheeks were suspiciously flushed, although how the fine-boned girl could hold her liquor better than Shizuru was beyond her. Maybe Shizuru had started off her drinking early, and Keiko just hadn't noticed. That would make more sense.
Keiko sighed, and got to her feet. "Okay, that's enough for one night," she said, firmly plucking the can from Shizuru's hand. It was a testament to how sloshed she was that she didn't even put up a token protest.
She must be more worried about her brother than I thought, to get this drunk, Keiko realized. Shizuru wasn't the drinking type, not like Atsuko. She had to have a better reason than celebration to let out like this. Embarrassment slid down Keiko's spine, when she realized how long it had taken her to notice this. She wasn't the only one watching a loved one almost die again and again in this tournament.
"Come on, let's get you to bed," Keiko said, pushing the darker thoughts threatening to form in the back of her mind. She helped Shizuru to her feet- not without some difficulty, but she'd had practice with Yusuke's mother.
Shizuru fell asleep almost as soon as she touched the bed, not even pulling the blanket over herself. Smiling almost fondly at the slack expression on her face, Keiko grabbed the comforter off of the spare bed, drawing it over her. She paused, then dragged the trash can to the side of her bed as well. It was better to be safe than sorry, after all, and she didn't fancy trying to sleep with the scent of vomit soaking the carpet.
Now that she was done with Shizuru, Keiko turned her attention to her next task. Cringing at the cans piled around the room, she made her way over to Botan, who had managed to polish off another can while she was taking care of Shizuru.
"Botan," Keiko said firmly, her hands propped on her hips. "You need to stop, before you end up like Shizuru."
"Oh, you're so sweet, Keiko," Botan giggled. "But don't worry yourself, I'm not that drunk." To accentuate her statement, she made an exaggerated gesture with her arm.
"I can see that," Keiko said drily. "Come on, let's get you to bed too. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow."
"If you say so," Botan said with no little amount of cheer. She got to her feet- unsteadily, but with no help from Keiko. Not wanting to take her chances, Keiko took her arm, and began to steer the other girl towards her bed.
"Oh, Keiko, you're so nice," Botan said suddenly, giggling again. "Yusuke's so lucky to have a girl like you. Silly boy doesn't know what he's got."
Keiko stiffened. Yusuke...
Botan took advantage of her sudden immobility, and pulled her on to the bed with her. She overcompensated, and with an undignified squawk, Keiko ended up sprawled over the bed sheets.
"Whoops!" Botan giggled again. "Clumsy me!"
"It's alright," Keiko groaned, pushing herself to a sitting position. She eyes Botan. "We should probably get you out of those clothes. They can't be comfortable to sleep in."
"I don't think Yusuke would like that very much," Botan said, and giggled yet again.
"What?" Keiko asked, nonplussed. "What's Yusuke got to do with any of this?" Maybe she drank more than I thought. She had assumed that Shizuru had been the main cause of the quickly emptying cans, but she'd be the first to admit that she hadn't been keeping count.
Botan was staring at her, Keiko realized, and there was something very intent in those purple eyes. She shifted nervously. "Botan?" she asked, uncertain.
Slowly, Botan leaned forward, so close that Keiko could see her eyelashes, dark against her pale skin. She didn't move- couldn't move, truly, so caught up was she in the intensity of the other girl's stare.
"So lucky," Botan murmured, and her voice sent vibrations over Keiko's skin. She swallowed, her mouth dry. She attempted to say something- what?- but nothing came.
Then, ever so slowly, Botan cupped Keiko's face with gentle hands and kissed her.
For a moment, everything was still. Botan's lips were dry against her own, her breath ghosting over her skin. Her eyes, those deep, intense eyes, were closed, her eyelashes gentle shadows against her cheeks.
Then Keiko let her own eyes fall closed, and kissed her like a sigh. Slowly, languidly. The taste of alcohol was thick on her tongue, and Botan's hair slipped like silk through her fingers.
Keiko brushed her thumbs on the curve of her cheeks, and Botan gasped. She pulled back, breaking the kiss, her eyes impossibly wide.
"Keiko, I'm so sorry," she fumbled, suddenly sober- and how did that work? Keiko wondered. Was that even possible, in this world suddenly filled with impossible things? Yet her eyes were clear now, unfogged of alcohol, and her words as well. For the first time, she wondered what Botan was.
"I didn't mean- I would never," Botan continued, desperate, and Keiko silenced her with a finger against her lips.
"Shh," she said, smiling a soft smile. "It's alright. I didn't mind."
"But, Yusuke-" Botan protested.
"Is my best friend," Keiko said.
"But you love him," Botan said.
"Yes," Keiko answered, simply. She looked up then, met Botan's wide, panicked gaze straight on. "But that doesn't mean he's the only one I've ever cared about.
Botan stared, wordless, and this time it was Keiko who initiated the kiss. It was soft, sweet, but brief, and once more it was Botan who broke away first.
"I'm sorry, but- I can't," she said, breathlessly. "Not to Yusuke."
Keiko nodded once, in understanding. She'd expected that- had known how this would end the moment Botan had kissed her. That was just the kind of loyalty Yusuke inspired in those who dared to get close to him, herself most of all. She loved him for it, usually.
"I know," she said, looking away. "But- I want you to know something." She turned back to Botan, looking her straight in the eyes. "If- if I had met you first, you would have been the one I choose."
Botan didn't say anything- Keiko wasn't sure if she was even breathing. She just kept staring at her with that wide-eyed stare.
Keiko leaned over, and kissed her one last time, just a brief brushing of the lips. When she drew back, her smile was soft and sad.
"Goodnight, Botan," she said.
And both knew that was the end.