Play With Me
This took me about twelve rewrites, and I'm still not sure I like the end. But, as I've pointed out before, my opinion is not the one matters so let me see yours.
"Hiei, come play with me!" Ruby eyes followed her childishly graceful movements from under the large sturdy oak whose branches and leaves offered some protection from the summer storm(save the occasional drop)as she twirled and splashed through the flooded grass.
"No." He instantly regretted his cold response as a spin froze halfway, her whole body suddenly ridged. His shoulders tensed as she pivoted around to face him, her drenched blue ponytail swinging with the quick movement.
A heavy breath tried to escape his lips when she stuck her tongue out at him childishly, a mischievous gleam shining in her pale pink eyes. Flashing him a teasing smile, she turned her attention to the dark purple sky, arms spread as she spun giggling innocently as though the rain had agreed to play with her when he would not.
He allowed himself to relax against the tree's rough bark, thankful that she wasn't upset. He felt the smallest of smiles creep across his lips as she continued to dance and splash through puddles that were rapidly becoming a temporary swamp, knowing not many others would be able to put up with his cold attitude and harsh tendencies.
But Botan simply accepted his standoff-ish attitude as the way that he was and often commented with a playful smile that he simply wouldn't be Hiei without such qualities. He was grateful that she was so patient and understanding toward him, never pushing him but never leaving him behind.
Hiei straightened as Botan approached him under the tree, finally finished with her game. She'd lost her red tie somewhere in the clearing, but her hair was so saturated with rain and hopelessly matted against her head and back that it really didn't matter. She looked like a water nymph, the water sliding through her blue tresses, giving it the appearance of a flowing river. Her pink kimono was equally drenched and clung to her skin uncomfortably, but her pink eyes gleamed joyfully and the bright smile never left her face.
"Thank you." The whispered statement floated over the crash of the storm as he placed his long black cloak over her sopping shoulders.
Pink eyes swirling with confusion, gently searched hardened crimson, "For what?"
For what? For understanding when he was harsh. For finding him when no one else had bothered to look. For being patient when he couldn't open up. For never leaving him alone. For choosing to believe that there was something in him worth loving.
In the end he settled for leaning up to kiss her cheek. "For always wanting me to play with you."
