Disclaimer: I don't own YYH or the characters
As promised, here is a Hiei X Botan drabble series. To those who haven't read my other stories before, this little will be a bunch of random drabbles that can either be read on their own, or read in congruence with some of my other Hiei X Botan fanfics. Some chapters will specifically correlate with specific stories, and others could be taken either way, and can especially seem like they take place after the events of Heart Races. I may even have some drabbles from some AU stories I have written or will write. I hope you enjoy it!
Special thanks to MystiKoorime for helping me with the summary!
It was a beautiful day where Botan and the girls were walking around the city. They had spent the day shopping, and now they were headed to a café where Kuwabara had taken Yukina once before on what could be considered their third, official date. Botan looked around the busy streets with a smile on her face. She had lived in Human World for years now and was very happy, especially since demons were integrating nicely with the humans. Of course, some humans were still skeptical, and they sometimes blamed horrendous crimes on the demons, but Yusuke and Kurama had been handling that. The two of them opened up a detective agency, remaining completely unbiased during all their cases. Demons were doing their best not to wreak havoc in this foreign world, for the most part. The three worlds had finally been balanced.
A breeze blew by and tickled Botan's nose. It wrinkled slightly, but Botan managed to avoid sneezing. In that moment, Yukina was talking to her about where Kuwabara was taking her for their one year anniversary. The former ferry girl smiled, happy that Yukina finally understood what love truly was. Of course, when Yukina started going out with the human, Hiei had been far from thrilled. It was something he'd have to get used to, Botan figured. After all, it had been his choice to keep quiet for so long. In an unintentional way, Yukina was getting her revenge on her brother. Botan would always mentally laugh at that, something that irritated Hiei greatly when he was tuned into her thoughts.
The wind had picked up again, and this time Botan couldn't help but sneeze. Her sneezes were always loud and obnoxious, and she nervously looked around making sure she hadn't drawn unwanted attention to herself. Really, the only ones paying attention were her friends. Yukina and Keiko had blessed her, but Shizuru surprisingly chuckled as she lit her cigarette. Botan looked at the elder Kuwabara questioningly, and the brunette looked at her with a mischievous grin. "What's that phrase you always say again?" the woman questioned. "'Sneezy, sneezy, someone special is thinking about you?'"
When the woman laughed again, Botan blushed. Sure, that expression was something she always said, but she doubted anyone was thinking about her in that moment. The only person who could be was most likely training or doing something that was more important than daydreaming about her. He had responsibilities that he couldn't ignore, and he wasn't one to be distracted. She did miss him, though, and wondered just when he'd be back.
A sigh escaped her as she thought of the fire demon. He came and went as he pleased regardless of the fact that she missed him. When he showed up, it was always a surprise ever since he had returned to Mukuro's territory in the first place. He had surprisingly returned to keep the balance between the worlds. It was in everyone's best interest, including his, that the three worlds remained united.
She tried to shake her mind free of thoughts. Any time she thought about his abrupt departures, she grew saddened. He never uttered a "goodbye" to anyone before he left, and he rarely contacted the rest of the team while he was away. Still, Botan couldn't help but think he did check up on her and Yukina from time to time.
As they entered the restaurant, Botan cast her gaze up to the sky and smiled. She wondered if Hiei ever took the time to relax and look at the clouds. Then she wondered if there were even clouds in Demon World.
Hiei found himself lying on the roof of Mukuro's stronghold staring at the red and purple sky full of black clouds. He had been in combat the majority of the morning, and once his opponents were defeated he went off to search the borders for human stragglers that wandered into Demon World. It wasn't unusual for humans to wander in, nor did the demons have anything against their foolish wandering, at least not anymore, but it was unsafe for the unsuspecting humans to inhale Demon World air. For most humans, it was poisonous. Without the demons on border patrol, it was possible they'd die.
Ever since demons and humans began to integrate in Human World, humans were less likely to slip through dimensions. Portal hotspots were identified in their realm, so there were signs of warning. The three worlds had come such a long way. There were still humans that hated demons and demons that hated humans, but for the most part things were better and Spirit World did a surprisingly excellent job of protecting innocent humans and demons from persecution. Never did Hiei ever believe it was possible.
He thought of a time where he had hated humans, their stupidity, and everything they stood for. It was before he actually saw what that dimension had to offer. Yukina loved it there, so Hiei's opinion had slowly started to change. As long as his sister was happy, that world couldn't be so bad.
Had he not entered that world years earlier, he would have never met his teammates. Sure, they had been enemies at first, and Hiei could distinctly remember his crimes against the spirit detective and his assistant. He chuckled at the thought. He never thought he'd be assimilated into an alliance, but in his current position, he was strangely thankful.
Because of that one crime against Spirit World, he had become a part of a team that had strangely enough become like a family to him. He never admitted it before, but after Yukina had confessed that she knew he was her brother, he finally accepted he wasn't alone anymore.
Sure, in Demon World he was still a loner, ruthless and cutthroat. No demon knew of his life in Human World. Only Mukuro knew of his relationship with one of Spirit World's former ferry girls.
Some days, Hiei didn't understand what possessed him to pursue the woman. She was everything he hated: kind, weak, and of Spirit World. Still, she managed to peel through his layers and accept his cruel past. Unlike the detective's woman, Botan never seemed to stop him from pursuing his ambitions. Even though he left her often to return to the demon plane, she waited for his return with open arms.
He could still remember the last time he returned. He had been gone a few months without word. It had been the longest he was gone, and when he showed up at the apartment, he found her sobbing into her hands. Taken aback, he slowly entered through the open window. Botan had heard the sound of feet touching down and instantly shot up. When her teary eyes met his stony orbs, she nearly launched herself into his arms. Apparently, she had fallen asleep on the couch and had a horrible nightmare where he had died in a fight. She had thought he was gone so long because he could never return, and because she had given up her roles in Spirit World, she did not have the ability to find out if her dream was true. After that night, where she remained inconsolable until she passed out in his arms, he settled on never staying away that long ever again, if only for her peace of mind.
He blushed at the thought of the woman in his arms. It was most likely time to head back, he figured. He couldn't help but wonder what she was doing at that moment. The demon could picture her walking around the city, most likely taking in some Human World sites. She was as curious about the world as he had become after living there from time to time. It was amusing to both of them that there was still a great deal they didn't know.
Beside himself, his nose began twitching before he sneezed abruptly. He rubbed his nose and scoffed. The fire demon rarely ever sneezed, but he only seemed to when he was away from Human World too long.
He always wondered why, but shrugged it off and took his leave. He'd be there by nightfall.