------------
Disclaimers: The usual, YYH doesn't belong to me, I make 
no money from this, don't sue me etc.

Title: Fountain Spray [1/1]
Author: Allisana
Email: allisana@angelfire.com
Rating: G
Type: one-shot, Botan POV fic
Warnings/Spoilers: Botan is OOC, but not without reason.
Teaser: Koenma and Ayame are getting married and Botan 
couldn't be happier. Really.
Last Revised: May 11, 2001
Notes: This is my first ever fanfic of any type. C&C 
would be appreciated, especially regarding canon errors. 
Timeframe is after the series ends. 
Acknowledgements: Thanks to AraZhi for pre-reading!
Keywords: KoBo, Koenma, Botan, Ayame
=======================



I'm happy right now. 

Really happy.

Ayame-san has accepted his proposal. She will become 
Koenma-sama's number one ferry girl - and his wife. 

I don't mind at all that I'm losing the position I'd 
worked so hard to get as the number one ferry girl. I'm 
thrilled in fact.

I haven't known Koenma-sama for very long. I was just 
appointed as his top ferry girl a year before Yusuuke 
Urameshi became a Reikai Tantei; six years after I had 
begun training as a ferry girl. Ayame-san has been 
around *much* longer than that. 

Even though me and Koenma-sama don't have much history 
together, we have become somewhat close - like best 
friends. That's why, as my duty as a best friend to 
bring him happiness, I started setting him and Ayame up. 


Well, that's not the reason entirely.


I have much respect for Koenma-sama. There *are* times 
when I want to kill him, but that's a part of my job 
description. I instruct Reikai Tantei, guide spirits to 
Reikai, and besides all that, I offer my counsel and 
support to Koenma-sama, even if it means bopping him on 
the head because of his tactlessness.

He is someone you can't help but respect (and sometimes 
laugh at). He devotes himself wholly to his work while 
knowing he has his limitations (though he does admit 
them in the absurdest ways). His leadership skills are 
questionable, and he tends to get distracted from his 
"real" duties from time to time, but he makes up for it 
with his most admirable trait: his strong sense of right 
and wrong. There's no other person more fit to be the 
judge of the dead than him.

Koenma-sama's sense of morality, coupled with his 
infuriating stubbornness, is partly why I'm doing what I 
am now.

The truth is, I'm not working for Koenma-sama. 

I'm working for his father.

My job was to keep an eye on Koenma-sama. Enma-sama knew 
that his son was the type who nosed into everything, 
even if it wasn't his business. And he knew that his son 
could be very hard-headed at times, to the point that he 
wouldn't even listen to some of Enma-sama's orders. 
Therefore, Koenma-sama was, without a doubt, capable of 
turning anyone into the authorities if they deserved it, 
even if that someone was his own father. That's why 
Enma-sama didn't want Koenma-sama meddling in his 
affairs; they weren't all "clean", so to speak.

Enma-sama had hired previous ferry girls and onis to spy 
for him, but they all seemed to be too far from the 
action to obtain any substantial information. He needed 
someone close to Koenma-sama, close enough so that 
Koenma-sama would confide with that person. George the 
Oni wasn't a feasible choice - he was dead loyal to the 
prince.

So Enma-sama got me.

I was a new recruit at the time, but Enma-sama could 
already see my ability to pick up things quickly, and my 
zeal for my ferry girl training. He saw right through my 
bubbly cheerfulness, the mask that hid the deep ambition 
I was always ashamed to have -girls just weren't 
supposed to be that way, or so my parents ingrained in 
me- the mask that I now find hard to take off.

He knew what I wanted, and offered it to me - the 
highest honor of assisting the King of Reikai. That 
wasn't all, of course, but I wanted that honor, badly, 
and that time, I could finally go after what I wanted, 
without the constant lecturing of my parents and 
relatives who I'd left behind. So I did.

Because of the amiable personality I had developed, it 
was easy for me to befriend the other ferry girls, and 
gain their favor. Ayame-san, in particular, stood out, 
because she seemed to be tighter with Koenma-sama than 
the others. I didn't think anything of it at the time 
though. 

I was never very good at covering things up and I always 
tended (even now) to freeze up whenever things get a bit 
tense, so of course, there were a couple of close calls 
where I almost gave myself away. Luckily, everyone 
always thought my flub-ups were caused because I was a 
complete airhead. It wasn't such a bad reputation to 
cultivate, if it meant I could easily cover for myself 
and the absences I incurred whenever I had to report to 
Enma-sama.

But despite everything, I managed to use my influence, 
as well as Enma-sama's, and got myself promoted past 
Ayame-san, and all the ferry girls, until, after five 
years, I reached the top position - Koenma-sama's number 
one. 

It was hard, at first, to work with such a pigheaded 
boss, but I just reminded myself of my mission, and 
somehow, through the weeks, my charms worked on Koenma-
sama and he became more manageable. But I think he 
worked his charms on me too, because I became more 
content with my work as a regular ferry girl. Sometimes, 
as I got more involved with my work, especially during 
the time I was assisting Yuusuke and his team, I would 
completely forget what I was there for, and think of 
myself as a true friend of Koenma-sama and the most 
reliable ferry girl there was.

I would always remember my purpose in the end, though. 

I was to report everything that Koenma-sama did or 
discovered straight to Enma-sama. This, I did. 
Everything seemed to be going fine, until Koenma-sama 
started becoming more engrossed in his work. I thought 
it was just another one of his attempts to get rid of 
the backlog in his files, but then I noticed that his 
work was piling up too. It hit me then that he was up to 
something besides work, something that could get us into 
trouble. I mentally kicked myself for getting soft, then 
reported my suspicion to Enma-sama, but by then, it was 
too late to do anything. 

Koenma-sama had already discovered some details about 
Enma-sama's plan on keeping control of Reikai and 
Ningenkai. Fortunately, he never discovered the plans 
about Maikai and Meikai, but the evidence was still 
strong enough for him to report his father to the 
authorities. 

Enma-sama was put on trial, but, surprisingly, I still 
wasn't out of the job. In fact, he offered me a top 
position in his Cabinet if I could find a way to 
distract Koenma-sama long enough for him to do some 
dealing to get out of jail as easily as possible without 
Koenma-sama's interference.

I did better, though. I distracted Koenma-sama for life. 
I remembered Ayame-san, and quickly discovered that she 
and him had some chemistry going on. I played on it. I 
encouraged Ayame-san to give Koenma-sama support through 
his father's trial, while I avoided Koenma-sama so he 
would *have* to talk to her. He took the bait, and 
finally began to open up to Ayame-san, who also became 
more and more enraptured in him.

All I had to do was sit back and watch their love take 
its course. It was hard to adjust to not being able to 
speak to Koenma-sama like before, but I knew, and I know 
still, that I have to make sacrifices. I just wish it 
didn't have to hurt so much to let that brat go. But I'm 
not in love with him, like that poor Ayame-san. It's 
just different without him, that's all.

Koenma-sama does remember me, though. I almost thought 
he had forgotten, but just today, he told me about his 
plan to propose to Ayame-san. My heart seemed to freeze 
at the news, but I attributed it to just being stunned. 
I couldn't feel anything for Koenma-sama, I had bigger 
plans. So I went on and wholeheartedly supported him in 
his decision.

Now, he has proposed, and Ayame-san has accepted. 
They've announced it to the Palace, and everyone is 
celebrating, onis included. I'm gracefully stepping 
aside for the new number one ferry girl.



========================



Ayame-san has somehow found me in the huge crowd. 
"Botan-chan," She begins. Her eyes, I can barely seem to 
look at them, they seem so joyful. "I need to thank 
you."

I manage a mega-watt smile. "Thank me? For what? No, no, 
you just go on and enjoy yourself now. Look, the others 
are waiting to congratulate you." I begin to push her 
off towards the other ferry girls chattering in a 
corner. I just don't feel like talking to her right now. 

She gives me one last, grateful look, before she heads 
off into the crowd. I still can't look at her.

There's something wet on my face. Is it raining? Oh, 
it's just the spray from the fountain, how silly of me!

"Botan-san, isn't it great? Koenma-sama is finally 
happy!" George cries, tears streaming down his face. He 
grabs me in a huge hug, while I stiffly stand there, not 
knowing what else to do. "I know you did it, and I have 
to say that you are the BEST friend Koenma-sama could 
have."

"You don't know what you're saying, George. I didn't do 
anything." I insist. But what he said strikes a nerve in 
me. BEST friend? Could I still be considered that after 
what I've really done?

"Go on, deny it, but *I* know." George sniffles, then 
goes to bawl some more with his fellow onis.

I need to get out of this crowd. My heart seems to be 
pounding faster than normal and I feel so tense. I just 
need to go someplace quiet and relax.

I make my way out of the party, but as I'm walking 
through the corridors, a voice stops me from going any 
further.

"Where are you going, Botan-chan?"

I turn slowly, dreading to face the person. "Koenma-
sama! I- ah- I just need to-" Arrrgh, my "air 
headedness" is kicking in again. If only I didn't feel 
so tense!

"You need to go?" He looks disappointed and slightly 
hurt.

I sigh, and unable to think of anything else, say, 
"Yes."

Koenma-sama floats towards me. I know he just likes to 
levitate himself so he can feel taller than me while 
he's in that cute baby form. I used to tease him about 
that before. But now was not a time for teasing.

"I see." He looks grim. "I- I haven't seen you very much 
lately."

I shift awkwardly. "I've, er, been busy. Ah, ferry girl 
duties, you know how it is. I've had to settle in the 
new Reikei Tantei recruits and, ah..." I'm babbling, I 
know, but what else can I do?

"I've missed you."

I stop, my mouth slightly agape. That took me by 
surprise. So Koenma-sama wasn't totally wrapped up with 
Ayame-san? I know I should be worried because if he's 
had the time to think about me, he's also had the time 
to think about Enma-sama. But, strangely, I'm not 
worried. I actually feel like a huge weight has been 
lifted from me, from my heart.

"Koenma-sama..." I whisper, feeling touched.

"Koenma-sama! Koenma-sama!" George's usually panicked 
voice interrupts the moment. He stumbles to a stop 
beside us. "Ayame-san is looking for you. She's 
concerned about-"

Koenma-sama waves George off. "All right, I'll be there 
shortly."

George bows, then makes to walk away. He stops, frozen 
in a moment of hesitation, before he becomes overcome 
with emotion. He grabs Koenma-sama in a hug. "I'm so 
happy for you, Koenma-sama!"

I smile as Koenma-sama tries frantically to pry George 
away. "George! GEOOOORRRGE!!! GET - OFF - OF - ME!!" It 
reminds me of how things used to be, before the present 
Reikai Tantei were recruited, way back when Kurama and 
Hiei were still a part of the team.

George only lets go when Koenma-sama threatens to send 
him on a three-week vacation leave. Even then, he's 
reluctant. 

"But Koenma-sama..."

"Please, George!" Koenma-sama says exasperatedly. "Tell 
Ayame-san for me that I'll be right there. You're my 
head oni. I know you can fulfill your duty to me."

That does it. Honored, and no longer crying, George sets 
out for his errand.

Koenma-sama scratches his head as he watches George go. 
"That George..." He turns to me. "I should be going 
now."

"Yes, you should be with Ayame-san." I say softly to 
him. I want to get this over with as quickly as 
possible. This is one situation where my cheerfulness 
can't help me.

He looks out towards the direction of the party. "I'd 
better turn into my Ningen form. Ayame-san seems to like 
me better that way." There's a pop, and now, he's 
standing in front of me in his teenaged form, looking 
devastatingly handsome in his suit. "How do I look?"

"Great." I involuntarily reach out to fix his collar. 
"But I've always preferred your Reikai form." I murmur 
absently.

He looks at me strangely, and I suddenly realize he has 
heard me. I turn red with embarrassment and try to 
apologize but I stop when I see the expression he has 
on.

"I do too." Koenma-sama says quietly. There's a look in 
his eyes, something like wist. "I won't stop you any 
longer. You can be on your way." He turns and walks 
towards the party.

"Yes, Koenma-sama." I reply automatically, but it's so 
soft I'm sure he hasn't heard me. A few moments later, I 
hear a roar of approval from the crowd. He has probably 
found his way to Ayame-san already.

So now Koenma-sama and Ayame-san are officially and 
happily in each other's company, all thanks to me. I've 
really outdone myself.

What's this on my face? More fountain spray? But I'm in 
the corridor and the fountain is in the courtyard... 

Oh no, it can't be. Not tears?! No, no! I'm stronger 
than that. I've flubbed a lot of things these past few 
years, but I'm not messing *this* up. 

Enma-sama is counting on me. Now that Koenma-sama is out 
of my hair, I can finally be on my way to becoming the 
top ferry girl of, not the prince, but the KING of 
Reikai, ENMA-sama himself.

No, these aren't tears of some love-struck ditz. These 
are tears of triumph!

Yes, they are.

Really. 



	The End.
	Really.