Chpater 1
Botan lugged her suitcase down down the sidewalk of her appartment building and toward Shizuru Kuwabara's station wagon. Over her left shoulder she carried her skis while she wore her ski jacket and pants. She could already spot Yusuke, Keiko, Kuwabara and Yukina in the car which ment they still had to go pick up Hiei and Kurama. When the blue haired onna reached the cat Shizuru popped the trunk and Kuwabara got out to help Botan put her things inside. When they were done she climbed into the back seat next to Keiko.
"Now to get the others," Shizuru said, pulling out of the parking lot.
Ad the drove across the city to Kurama's neighborhood Keiko, Yukina, and Botan talked about the trip they were all taking. It was winter vacation so Yusuke and the others at his school had the whole week to do what they wanted. It had been Yusuke's idea to go into the mountains on a ski trip.
"This is so exciting!" Botan squealed happily. "I can't wait to try out my new skis!"
"I can't wait to go ice skating," Keiko said, glancing at Yusuke who sat infront of them. "Maybe Yusuke and I can pair up and enter the skating contest."
Yusuke didn't comment but he looked nervous at the idea.
By that time Shizuru has reached Kurama's house and blew the car horn. Botan watched Kurama come outside with his suitcase and ski equiptment. She saw Hiei jump out of a nearby tree and follow his friend to the car, looking grumpy (He'd spent the night there). He wasn't happy about the trip but he felt he had to come. He'd been tricked into going. The onna noticed, like always, he wasn't bringing anything with him, not even a change of clothes.
After Kurama finished loading his stuff into the car and roof rack, he and Hiei climbed into the station wagon. Kurama sat down beside Yukina and Hiei wound up beside Botan though he looked like he'd rather sit next to his sister. He gave Kurama an annoyed look then glared out the window, looking miserable.
Doesn't he like snow? she wondered, as she watched him watch the landscape go by.
"Hiei?" she said finally.
He looked at her without moving his head. "Hn?"
"Don't you like snow?" she asked.
Now he did turn his head. His red eyes showed something in them that she couldn't read. He seemed to be telling her something without using words. It made her nervous.
"Uh...," she began.
"Hn." he looked away from her.
What was that about? she wondered, staring at the side of his face then out the window.
By then the scenery had changed. The city was now miles behind them and now they were passing through a snow covered forest. The ferry girl figured they wouldn't reach the ski lodge for about three hours so she decided to just sit back and enjoy the ride. She took her ipod out of her jacket pocket and put the ear phones in her ears. She turned the device on and started listening to "My December" by Linkin Park. She bopped her head to the music then closed her eyes and leaned back in her seat.
We'll stop for lunch in about an hour I think, she thought. Too bad we can't just go straight there. I can't wait to try out my new skis!
About an hour later Shizuru pulled the car into the parking lot of a road side fast food place and turned off the engine. As everyone got out Botan noticed Hiei remained where he was. He didn't meet anyone's eyes as they climbed out and continued to stare out the window with glazed over eyes. Botan stopped walking a few feet away from the car and watched him a moment. He still hadn't moved. She involuntarily headed back to the car.
Hiei saw her coming and immediately felt annoyed. He didn't need this. When she stopped infront of his window he snapped. "What?!" in a voice that told her instantly that he wanted to be alone.
"Aren't you coming in to eat?" she asked, leaning against the window and peering at him through the glass.
"Hn!" Hiei grunted as he crossed his arms and looked away from her. "I'm not hungry."
"You aren't?" she asked. She distinctly remembered Kurama yelling at his friend for not eating breakfast. She didn't know how long it took for demons to get hungry but twelve hours was probably enough time. "Are you sure?"
He turned his head to glare at her. "I-not-Hungry!" he said again.
"Okay," she said backing off. "Sorry."
Shed turned away from him and headed into the building, wondering why he hadn't wanted to come in. Is he still mad about being tricked into coming? she wondered.
When she entered she found her friends had already sat down to eat. Botan quickly ordered something then brought it over to the table where her friends were seated. She sat down and picked up the big juicy burger.
She was about to bite into it when Yukina asked. "Where's Hiei?"
"In the car," the blue ahirewd girl replied, her mouth watering at the sight of the burger she was postponed from eating.
Kurama dropped his own onto the table "What's he doing out there?" he asked.
Botan shrugged. "Who knows," she said. "He says he's not hungry."
Kurama's face suddenly changed. The expression it morphed into was something the girl hardly ever saw on him. Anger and disgust. "No here," she heard him mutter. "Not now of all times!"
What's wrong with him? she wondered. Is he mad at Hiei for not wanting to eat with us? Come to think of it, Hiei's always like that. She felt a little defensive for the fire demon but said nothing.
By then Kurama was even angrier. He slammed his fists down on the table and stood up. '"Excuse me," he said to Shizuru who was sitting beside him. "I have someone I need to talk to."
Shizuru nodded and let him out. Botan watched the red head stalk out of the building, looking determine.
What's that about? she wondered. What's going on here?
A few minutes later Kurama came back in with a very grumpy Hiei not too far behind. The ferry girl could tell by his face that he wasn't happy about being yelled at by his best friend or being forced to socialize. While the group made room for Hiei in their booth Kurama went up to the counter and ordered something. When he got it he brought it over and plopped it onto the table infront of Hiei before he sat down. The fire demon glared at the burger like it was some kind of parasite.
Yukina gave Hiei a look. "Are you okay, Hiei-sama?" she asked, looking worried.
He looked at his sister. "I'm fine," he said in what sounded like a cival voice. He almost always talked that way infront of her.
"Then why aren't you eating?" she asked glancing at him then the burger.
"I am," he said picking it up and biting into it. "See?" he said, his mouth full of food.
Botan saw the demon's face scrunch up with disgust. She knew he couldn't stand food from the living world, with the exception of ice cream, and had only made an exception here because he didn't want to upset his sister. The ferry girl just hoped it wouldn't make him sick. She wouldn't be able to stand it if he puked in the car.
Yuck! That's gross!
A few minutes later the group left the fast food place and piled back into the car. Botan wound up sitting between Hiei and Yukina this time but she didn't really mind. While Yukina talked to the onna Hiei instantly fell asleep and didn't wake up until they got to their destination.
Botan watched the fire demon sleeping. She'd noticed he was acting very unlike himself lately. He seemed grouchier than usual and even more anti-social. What was going on with him? She wondered. That trip wasn't that bad. After all; he'd been forced to go to worse places than this!
It must be something else, she figured, turning back to Yukina. But what?
About an hour later Shizuru pulled her car into the parking lot of the ski resort and turned off the engine. "We're here," she said to everyone in the back.
As Keiko and the other got out Botan reached over and shook Hiei lightly on the shoulder. "Hiei," she said. "Wakey wakey!"
The fire demon groaned and opened his eyes. His red ones locked with her candy ones. "What?" he demanded crossly.
"We're here," she said smiling. "Time to get out of the car."
He scowled at her but did so, sighing with annoyance. Botan followed him out and joined her friends in getting their luggage. Hiei stood a few feet away, waiting for them, looking quite unhappy. When they were done he followed them into the lodge, constantly walking a short distance behind.
A/N
Phew. This is my very first REAL HieiBotan fanfic with chapters. I'm going to try my best to make it great and keep them in character as much as I can. I hope they weren't too out of character or out of character at all in this chap. If they were; sorry about that. You'll find out what Hiei's problem is later.