Thoughts of a Solitary Shadow

Chapter One:  Leather Bound Surprise

It was late afternoon on that autumn day.  It was scheduled to have a small get together at Kurama's.  It had been a while since Botan had gotten a day off, or anyone had seen Hiei.  The leaves were crisp, the sound of them being crushed beneath your feet seemed so loud in the silence and so silent in the noise.  But one boisterous voice rose above the cries of autumn leaves.

"Listen you shrimp, no one likes you here!  I don't know why we even bothered to invite you!  You aren't any fun to be around.  You're always being all cocky and crap.  Who could ever like you?"  Kuwabara shouted at the fire demon before him.

Hiei lowered his gaze.  "Hn.  I'm leaving."  He started to stalk off when Kurama grabbed his shoulder.

"Hiei, don't leave.  I know Yukina would want you to stay.  It's not like any of that stuff is true anyway."

"…But it is…" Hiei whispered.

"What did you say?"  Kurama asked.  His friend's voice had gone down so drastically in volume he couldn't understand what he said.

Hiei shook his head, cursing himself for even whispering that now.  "Nothing.  It's not like I care what the baka thinks of me anyways."  He shrugged off Kurama's hand.  "I'm leaving."

"Aw, leave shorty alone.  Once he's gone everything will be a lot more fun."  Kuwabara crowed.

"Kuwabara!"  Botan shouted.  "These things you're saying are really uncalled for!"

Kurama turned to look at her and shook his head in agreement, and as he turned to look back towards Hiei his friend had already left.  All there was in his place was autumn air filled with the leaves colored like fire.

Botan sighed exasperated, "Look what you did Kuwabara!"  She extended her hand and her oar materialized.  "Baka!"  She screamed as she hit him hard on the head.  Kuwabara's world swirled before him.

As Botan was preparing to strike again Kurama intervened, probably saving Kuwabara from a nasty concussion.  "Okay, that's enough punishment for now." 

"But—" Botan began to protest.  But after looking into Kurama's eyes and Kuwabara's body trembling in pain she gave in.

Yusuke, Yukina, and Keiko came out from Kurama's house to see what was going on.  They all looked around, completely puzzled.  It was a strange scenario to walk into.   Botan looking  ready to kill, Kurama looking frustrated and Kuwabara being knocked out cold…actually the last part wasn't so strange…

"Where's Hiei-kun?  He was here just a minute ago…"  Yukina said as her gaze landed on Kuwabara.  "Is he okay?"

"Aw, he'll be fine.  It's not the first time he's been knocked out."  Yusuke answered nonchalantly. 

"But where did Hiei go?"  Keiko asked as she walked next to Yusuke.

"Well, you see it was something that—"

"Kuwabara said right?"  Yusuke finished for Kurama.  The kitsune nodded.

"Well, I'm not just going to let him leave."  Botan stated firmly, a look of grim determination set on her face.

"I thought you were scared of him?"  Yusuke said with a grin.

Botan blushed.  "I'm not scared of him…okay.  Maybe I was a tiny bit before but not anymore.  He's part of our team he's our friend now.  Anyways, he's been a bit more broodier lately."

"Um…is that really possible?"  Keiko asked uncomfortably.

"Well, come on.  I mean he hasn't been around as much and…well I just have a feeling you know?"  Botan took a look around her to see if anyone agreed, she was met with a few nods from Kurama and Yusuke.

"I think you are right Botan-chan"  Yukina added quietly.

"Well then, that settles it!  I'm going after Hiei.  He has to have some sort of fun now and then!"  Without another word Botan turned and sprinted on after the remarkably fast koorime.

"Do you think she'll be able to catch him?"  Yusuke asked.

Kurama smiled, "Not really.  But I think I'll go with her."  And following the actions of the deity, Kurama left also.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Botan looked up as she panted for breath.  She could have sworn she saw a blur of black ahead of her, so she kept running through the deserted park.  "Darn it Hiei!!!"  She shouted into the cool crisp air.  Finally she stopped, the sun was setting and it was going to be dark soon.  With her head hung low in defeat the ferry girl began her way home.  The beauty of the sunset did nothing to console the overwhelming feeling of failure.  She had no idea why suddenly Hiei's persona had suddenly become bleaker, nor had any idea why she had noticed it.

As she walked along dragging her feet she stumbled across something on the ground.  It was a black leather journal, still in mint condition.  On the cover four letters were engraved, the name of the person who owned the book.  Botan's slender fingers began to trace the outline of the name when suddenly Kurama showed up behind her.

"Hey, I supposed He got away…wait.  What is that?" 

Botan looked up, her face a little flushed from the run and her voice incredulous.  "It's Hiei's journal…" 

A/N:  Hey Reikachan14 here,

I hope you enjoyed that chapter.  And I'm sorry if you found it bland.  I initially wanted to go right into Hiei's journal but I couldn't resist the cliffie!  It's like those things have evil powers or something…  Anyways, the next chapter will be a lot better because there will be passages from Hiei's journal!  Okay, so on to the teaser!

*Teaser*  So now that Kurama and Botan have found Hiei's journal will they read it?  Well, with the intensity of the curiosity of their Yusuke and Kuwabara it seems that they do.  What they find is a story of Hiei meeting a very sick little girl.