Hello guys! Well, this story is my third Yu Yu Hakusho fic, but witten 6 years later the other two. First time in English (I hope it's not too horrible for you, but if there are expressions that burn your eyes, please tell me and I'll edit the chapters), and first Hiei/Botan. Yes, after reading like… 50 or more fics, I decided to make one myself, I just can't understand how I didn't notice the absolutely cuteness of this pairing before.
The characters of Yu Yu Hakusho belong to Yoshihiro Togashi, as we all know.

Before you start reading, I must alert you that this fic is manga based, which end is quite different from the anime one. If you haven't read it, I would recommend you to read it from chapter 170. I have written more or less what happens, but it's always wonderful to see Togashi's drawings.

I hope you enjoy it!

Just A Step between Life and Death

Chapter 1: Do or die.

There are always parts of the soul that are hidden from people. Even if they are beloved people, like your dearest friends. Fragments of your personality, secret hobbies, things that you think that are too weird for your friends to comprehend. But there are people who show very little, compared to what they are. And that's Botan who I am talking about. What did Botan's friends know about her? She was a grim reaper with blue hair, she was a very good worker, she had blue hair, she was happy practically all the time and she loved to fly. But, what about her age? Or her location? What did she do on her free time?

The truth is Botan lives in an apartment destined to ferry girls in human world. There live also Ayame and Higaneshi, but, as all soul reapers have rooms in Spirit world, her companions use to stay in Spirit World more often than her. It was in that apartment where she first saw the pamphlets that announced specific courses for ferry girls. She went to all of those who implied interaction with the living humans. And that's how she became the best ferry girl, because, as she was able to affront danger and sometimes she had to mingle between the crowds of humans, she comprehended more than anyone else in the ferry girl gang the feelings of the humans when they died. And that was the reason why the souls that Botan brought to the doors of Justice where the happiest and calmest of them all. Those pamphlets also made her a specialist healer of white magic, spiritual detective's assistant and team trainer.

Time had passed since Yusuke, Kurama and Hiei went to the Demon World. It seemed to Botan that all those funny things that had passed with those guys had died. She was the Grim Reaper, her job was to send the souls through the river Styx, and that was all. But when Yusuke had died by mistake, her afterlife changed with his. She didn't only have to send off souls, she was Spiritual Detective's Assistant. And with that auxiliary job, she had made human friends, and also demon friends. It was fun because those guys had different personalities and they always had quarrels, and the girls were fun to be with. She loved them so much. But then Yusuke had to turn himself into a demon and depart to demon world. There was a massive tournament which decided the new king of all demon world and after that, all the conflicts between demon world and human world were banished, so there was no meaning for a spiritual detective, and neither his assistant.

It was weird how she felt. She knew that one day she would not see them again. After all, as the human souls she ferried, their meetings were very short. She shouldn't make special links with them… but, even if she didn't have plans to, she just couldn't resist to form them with those guys. And the return to her sole ferry girl life and not seeing them saddened her.

As a ferry girl, every evening she had to report to Prince Koenma the success of her job (if all the souls had been sent to the Doors of Justice or if some soul was resisting and needed support). On a one fateful day, at the hour of the Spirit World reports, a group of religious terrorists of the armed church of the true disciples kidnapped all the workers of Spirit World, Botan and Koenma included.

Luckily, the Special Defense Forces where not in the place of the kidnapping, and the captain went to see Yusuke and ask for his help.

As Koenma had changed a lot of thing between Spirit World, Human World and Demon World, these terrorist group, who were very traditional, demanded that all demons had to go back again to Demon World and close the barrier between the two worlds. If they didn't do that in 24 hours, they would destroy the Human World. Even if that was extreme, that was not an option for Koenma, he wouldn't give in. As for Botan, as a ferry girl she had the book of life and death of king Enma, where all the programmed deaths were mentioned. She had had the habit of looking at the deaths that were going to happen in a time lapse of a week since Toguro killed Genkai. It was to prepare herself to face the departing souls, but this habit was not accepted, because it could be dangerous for the order of the afterlife, so this was one of the things Botan never told a soul. But, this hobby made her to know beforehand that that night was not different from others. There wasn't going to be any massacre, neither in Human World, nor Spirit World not Human World. Just the normal number of deaths of everyday, and just one that was more important to her, but she knew that it had nothing to do with that terrorism act.

She had been tied up for a while since the entrance of the terrorists. She was calm for what she had to be. She was in the center of a circle formed by her colleagues. They were panicked. Then she sensed someone pressing with their finger her back. When she turned her head, she saw Yusuke in the sewer hole. He took her and brought her down. They were all in a folding ladder. There stood her guys. She smiled happily. Then Kuwabara untied her.

'Hi guys. We are all sit here and the terrorists are circling us.' She informed them. They nodded as if they had known it all along. 'Oh, you know already.' She saw Hiei some steps below and thought about his jagan. 'Of course.' She whispered.

'Aren't you frightened?' Kuwabara asked a little impressed.

'What? Oh! Of course! It's pretty stressful!' She laughed a little hysterically. 'If it didn't seem so it's because I was so happy to see you again!' She continued cheerily.

'Yes, it's nice to see you.' Yusuke told her with a sweet smile. She smiled brightly at him.

'Didn't we need to hurry?' Asked Hiei a little bored of the situation.

Yusuke nodded and jumped outside the hole. Kuwabara continued, then Kurama, who was a little below her, made her go a little to the side and he went up too. The last one was Hiei, and when he passed by her side she tried to pull herself more to the side, to not touch him, but he himself stepped on the right places to keep their distance.

'Stay here for a while.' He whispered when his head was by her level. She nodded quite surprised and he jumped out of the hole.

She saw from below how the boys knocked out all the terrorists and then she climbed the stairs and helped her coworkers to set them free from the strings.

The chaos interrupted her thoughts when the people started to run hysterically because of the canyon that was supposed to destroy the human world. And then Yusuke told everybody to leave Spirit World. He was going to choose the button that would decide their fate. There were three buttons. One option was to self-destruct, other to fire Sarayashiki and the last one, to stop the canyon. Botan, to calm them down, decided to ferry the demons who work there to a safe place in the Human World (not Sarayashiki). She made some travels. The other ferry girls were doing the same thing. She saw Kurama and Kuwabara's souls going back to human world. There, they took a car with the girls and drove far from their city. Each time she flew back to Spirit World, she saw Yusuke sitting in front of the buttons. She supported him silently.

The last time she got there, though, Spirit World was already empty, well, almost. There were four souls there apart from her. Yusuke was in the same place as before, and Puu was there, with the face of Genkai. 'Yes… I'll have to take her here later…' She said to herself. She had flown with her once already, and that time she took her death very badly. But this time she was prepared. And Genkai was what Yusuke truly needed to make the good choice.

Then she looked to the big stone that was in the other side of the room. Two figures stood there hidden to give Yusuke reassurance. One of them was Koenma, the one that had caused all this ruckus because of his decisions. He was the one who had made Yusuke Spiritual Detective and the one who didn't want to kill him when he knew that he was a demon. Also, he was the man who saved the demons from his father, king Enma, and gave them the freedom they deserved. Next to him though, was a person Botan didn't think that would be there. There stood Hiei. His arms were crossed and his eyes closed. Then Botan felt happy. She had sometimes doubted him because of that carefree façade that he put himself, but then she felt that now she comprehended him. He really cared for Yusuke. He really thought they were his friends. But as his entire life he had been a cruel thief and wanted to be a powerful demon, he thought that he didn't deserve them, or stay by their side. Even though, now he was putting his life on Yusuke's hands. And that fact brought Botan so many feelings that she wanted to cry of happiness and sadness at the same time.

Yusuke pressed the button. She didn't see which one was. She then felt her nervousness possess take part of her body. Some seconds passed. Nothing. A minute. And Yusuke's laugh.

'She's a goddess!'He shouted.

'Puu?' Puu asked.

So, Genkai was not there anymore. Time to work for Botan.

She glanced at the hidden ones. Koenma sighed out of relief and Hiei smiled closing his eyes. She smiled too. She summoned her oar and in the moment she jumped into the sky to fly to Genkai's temple, she could have sworn that she saw his crimson eyes looking at her.

'She's a goddess!' Yusuke shouted.

'Puu?' Puu asked.

'Oh Puu, I love her so much. Wait, weren't you the old granny?' He asked confused.

'Puu…'

'Oh well…' He patted his head with a smile. Somehow, he understood. 'I did it well!' He said grinning.

Koenma was now a little uncomfortable. He was next to Hiei. He had noticed Botan there a moment ago, and saw the look in Hiei's eyes when he looked at her. It seemed that he didn't understand why she was there, why she hadn't flown to a safe place. But Koenma knew that it was for the same reason Hiei had stayed there.

'Hiei… maybe I shouldn't tell you this but, Botan has left to take Genkai. She has just died.'

'So this was finally her hour.' He commented.

'Are you going to wait for them?' He asked casually.

'No.' He incorporated himself and separated from the rock.

'So are you returning to the patrol?' Koenma asked.

'What else could I do?' he shrugged while walking away from him.

Koenma sighed while watching his back.

Then Yusuke jumped to Hiei and hugged him.

'Hiei! I got the correct option!' He grinned in his shoulders.

'Yes, I know.' He said stoically while trying to separate Yusuke from him. 'Let go of me, you idiot!' Yusuke laughed but when Hiei began to give him kicks he released him.

'Why didn't you go back?' Yusuke asked seriously.

'Whatever.' Hiei muttered looking away and continuing his way.

'You'll come to visit us from time to time, right?' Yusuke asked again. He was truly happy. And now Hiei would never be able to scape from him.

'Who knows.' He muttered again and flew.

'HIEI! NOW I'M A REALLY GOOD NOODLES COOK!' He shouted.

Yusuke laughed a little more. Then saw Koenma who was looking at him with his calm visage.

'Hey Koenma, aren't you satisfied with your Spiritual Detective?' He asked mockingly.

'Yes, Yusuke. You have never let me down. Your stupidity is something people should learn about.' He said serious.

'Mmhh… are you mocking me? Well, it doesn't matter. Too bad I'm no longer in your charge.'

Koenma smiled.

'Yes, too bad.' He thought for a while and then asked. 'But, I will demand you one last thing.'

'One last thing?' He looked at him disbelieving. 'I have saved the three worlds and you are asking me more jobs to do? One favor is ok, but this may be too much.' He continued grinning. 'I don't know why, but I think this will not be the last favor I'll do for you.' He smiled. So he had accepted this new task.

'I think the same.' Yusuke fell to the floor. 'But this task is something only you can do.' Yusuke looked at him curious. 'Follow me, Yusuke.'

Botan arrived to Genkai's temple. Genkai's body was sitting on the living room table with her teacup in front of her. She looked as if she had fallen asleep there. She was smiling peacefully. 'A good way to die', she thought.

When she searched for her soul, she found it floating in the garden, looking at the bamboo fountain. Her soul looked 50 years younger.

'Oh, hello Botan.' The old lady greeted her.

'Goodnight, Genkai.' She told her.

'I'm happy it's you again the one who has come to bring me there.' The old lady's soul told her.

Botan nodded and materialized her oar.

'Time to go, then.' Genkai said to herself. She jumped into the oar.

They flew through the sky, but Botan didn't want to bring her directly to Spirit World, so she brought her to Sarayashiki to let her take a last look on the group. They had already returned to the city, and they were going to the convenience store to buy drinks to celebrate Yusuke's success, even if Yusuke was still in coma.

'These guys are good.' She said proud of them. 'I wonder where the idiot of Yusuke is.'

Botan looked at the group. He wasn't there, indeed. 'Well, maybe he wants to say goodbye himself.' She smiled to the old woman.

'That idiot.'

When they arrived to Spirit World, the workers were reinstalling themselves. They went to the front doors of the palace and Botan knocked at the door.

'Botan. I know you are worried.'

'Worried about what?' The soul gave her a knowing look about how quiet she had been. 'It's just that I'm sad.' Botan looked at the door.

'I know it's not only that.' Botan looked at her surprised. 'Botan, you are a tough girl. And yes, you have your duty as ferry girl, but it's clear as the day that you love those guys.' Botan furrowed her eyebrows. 'Don't worry. I know they love you as much as you love them, so, it's not as if you won't see them again until their death.'

Botan turned her head to her.

'Really…?'

'Sure.' She said smiling and pinching her cheek.

The door was opened and they walked to Koenma's desk.

'Botan, I want that tomorrow you go to my burial. Feel yourself part of the group, because you are. And make them want to be with you all of their lives, so, smile. Your smile has always been their strength.'

Botan looked at the old woman with teary eyes. She was overwhelmed with the deep emotions that maybe she, as the Death, shouldn't be feeling. But she was happy. Happy to be considered part of that group. Part of a group of friends.

Genkai went to speak with Koenma and her soul was declared to go to the heavens. When Genkai was in front of the Justice Doors, she heard a shout.

'GRAAAANNYYYYYY!' It was Yusuke. He was running from no one knows where to where she was standing.

'Don't you shout, stupid!' The woman said.

'But, you couldn't leave without saying goodbye to me!' Yusuke told her.

Genkai looked at his cheery face.

'Goodbye.' And she opened the door.

Yusuke's face fell.

'What? That's all? I'm your disciple!' He was disappointed.

She looked back.

'Yes! And you're too happy that I am dead!' The woman told him angry.

Yusuke smiled.

'I'm sad. I don't know what I will do without you. What if the world is in crisis and you don't possess Puu? What if I do the wrong choice?'

'Yusuke. When I did that it was because you were acting like a child. You know you can overcome anything. You just have to trust in yourself. And protect your loved ones before they're practically dead. You have to react before. But all the choices you have made, even if they were made from the stupidest ideas, they have been right, so, just do what you always do. And, if you doubt, imagine I'm kicking your butt or ask Keiko to do so.'

Yusuke laughed.

'Ok granny. I'll miss you. But I'm happy for you. Rest well.'

'Oh, and take care of all your friends, you know distance can sometimes be dangerous.'

'I know.' He said seriously. He knew what she meant by that.

'Goodbye Yusuke.' She told as she walked the path to heavens.

Yusuke turned her back, raised his hand and walked the other way.

'Bye.'

Botan flew to her apartment and stretched on the bed. It had been a long day. So many things happened. She was confused. She was happy because she had seen her friends and sad because Genkai left, but happy again for the encouragement she received from Genkai.

She took her Enma's book and flipped it to the deaths of that week. And, what she saw made her heart stop, well, if she had had a heart. She would have sworn that she saw Kuwabara's orange hair. She stopped on Monday. And flipped the pages through the 40 deaths more or less of each day until she arrived to the Sunday's deaths. There, she saw Kuwabara's photo and below it, his death hour.

Kazuma Kuwabara:

Age: 17 years old

Time of death: 23:56 H

Cause of death: Killed by Hiei Jaganshi.

So, this is the first chapter. I don't know if the next ones will be as long as this one, but, first I begin writing them, I'd like to know what you think of it, so, write me a review, please!