This piece is for the Hiei/Botan Shipper Week on Tumblr, spearheaded by the one and only, LonelyDreamer7.
Today's prompt is: Gift.
Botan stood in the middle of the hallway, eyes wide as she blinked at the fire-demon. She hadn't seen Hiei since their return from the Dark Tournament a few days ago and she had been preparing for the worst when she was told that he was looking for her. After nearly revealing his relation to Yukina one too many times, it seemed as though he was finally ready to make good on all those bone-chilling death threats.
She glanced around warily. There were many ferry-girls and ogres around, some outright staring at them, others being more discreet. Surely he would not try anything violent with all these witnesses present.
Gathering up her courage, she returned her attentions back to Hiei. His sword was strangely absent and his hands were shoved into his pockets, sharp gaze fixed on her.
"Lord Koenma mentioned you wanted to see me?" she asked, trying her best to keep her voice even and steady.
She flinched when he pulled his hand out of his pocket, her body tensing instinctively as he reached towards her. If Hiei noticed her skittish reaction, he did not show it. He simply held a rectangular box out before her, crimson eyes averted to the side.
"Um..." she began uncertainly, head titling in confusion.
"Take it, ferry-girl."
Botan nodded, accepting the item with both hands. Their fingers brushed together for the briefest moment and she was pleasant surprised by how warm his skin was. When she pulled away, she could still feel the heat tingling on her fingers.
"I don't understand," she said, brow crinkling as she stared down at the velvet box. "What is this for?"
Hiei regarded her slowly, crimson eyes as intense as always as he focused on her and her alone.
"You were the one who pushed for Yukina's residence in the human world, were you not?"
"Well, yes..." she admitted.
"I don't like owing anyone," he stated, shoulders squared defensively.
Botan shook her head, her expression softening.
"You don't owe me, silly! I did it because Yukina is my friend!" she tried to explain.
"And you know what she is to me," he replied pointedly.
Botan nodded in understanding.
"So… is this your way of thanking me?" she questioned. "A demon world custom, perhaps?"
"That is of no concern to you," he responded rudely.
His mouth pulled into a tight line, signaling that the conversation was over. Botan pouted, but did not press the issue. It was a miracle that the conversation had gotten this far without him threatening her, after all, and even though they had known each other for quite some time, she still found it hard to believe that he had come all this way just to give her a gift.
"Do you intend to stare at it all day or are you going to open it?" Hiei asked.
The fire-demon's cutting voice startled her out of her thoughts. He continued to stare at her impatiently and she nodded.
"Oh, right! Of course!"
Botan flipped open the top cover and let out a gasp. Inside contained a golden necklace with simple, yet stunning amethyst jewel attached to it.
"Oh, Hiei, it's beautiful..." she breathed out.
Her eyes roamed over the stone, taking in the intricate cuts and the way it gleamed when it caught the light. Her gaze then passed over the glittering gold of the necklace and eventually landed on the tiny price tag attached to it.
"...Um, Hiei?" she began suspiciously.
"What?"
"How in the world did you acquire enough human world currency to purchase this?" she asked.
"I didn't," came the flat reply.
"Y-you mean you stole it?!"
"How else would I have procured it?" he scoffed.
"Hiei!"
"What?"
"You can't just break the law!" she admonished. "You're on probation for goodness sake."
"You know that I don't care about laws, especially those of the human world."
"You might not, but I do! Furthermore, you just made me an accomplice in your larceny!"
"That hardly matters, seeing as I did not get caught."
"Still!" she exclaimed.
Hiei rolled his eyes.
"Keep your voice down, woman, you're causing a scene."
She looked around at the new attention they had garnered, before lowering her voice.
"I trust you didn't actually hurt anyone?" she asked.
"Hn, you can relax, ferry-girl. I am not foolish enough to make that mistake."
"Well, that's a relief..." she sighed, looking down at the necklace. "Now there's just the matter of the stolen goods..."
Hiei grunted, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Keep it or don't, I don't care," he scowled as he turned away.
Botan's expression fell into a look of regret as she took in the hard line of his shoulders and the way his hands were balled into fists. He went through all of this trouble for her and all she could do was berate him for it.
"Wait!" she called out urgently. "Please don't go."
Hiei faced her once more, but did not say a word.
"I didn't mean to be ungrateful or anything of the sort. In fact, I truly appreciate the gesture," she said meaningfully.
"…"
"It was very sweet of you," she continued.
"..."
"And sort of romantic, too," she mused with a light smile.
"It wasn't supposed to be," he defended. "I know for a fact that women like such things and you are always fawning over whatever catches your eye."
Her eyes widened as he went on.
"Silly, trivial things like the flowers that Kurama grows or the sunset."
"I didn't realize you noticed," she said quietly.
"You're always so loud and expressive, woman," he countered. "How could I not?"
Her smile grew as she glanced down at the gem. It was the same color as her eyes and she wondered if Hiei had taken that into account before he swiped it. She wondered if he had given it any thought at all.
"Believe it or not, this is the first time I've ever received a gift," she revealed.
Hiei was wordless at that.
"And it's so pretty, too," she praised.
"Then keep it and stop wasting my time with your indecision," Hiei encouraged.
The ferry-girl bit her bottom lip worriedly.
"I don't know..."
"I'm not returning it," he warned.
She opened her mouth to protest, but Hiei was quicker.
"And I refuse to tell you where I got it from."
"Hiei!"
"The damage is already done, so you may as well let go of your pesky morals."
Her brows drew together in concern. She wanted to, but a stirring in her conscience held her back.
Hiei seems to notice her indecision and he sighed, some of the tension draining from his features.
"If you can't do that much, then keep it because I'm asking you to," he requested.
Botan's eyes widened as she stared back at him. Hiei never asked anyone to do anything; the fact that he had lowered his guard and relinquished his pride enough to do so for her was extremely telling of his character.
"Hiei…"
"Keep it because I want you to have it," he finished, an unfamiliar quality in his voice and in his gaze.
Crimson eyes captured her own imploringly, breaking down all of her reservations. Botan gave in with a nod, completely mesmerized by the sudden shift in his countenance.
"Thank you, Hiei," she smiled, her heart warming in her chest at the surprisingly kind gesture.
A flicker of something new ran across his expression before his features hardened into their usual look of cold indifference.
"Speak of this to no one," he ordered.
In the next instant, a gust of wind blew her hair and ruffled her clothing and Hiei had disappeared out of sight.
Botan pulled the necklace out from its case, smiling down at the unexpected gift.
Maybe there was more to the fire-demon than she originally thought.
I think I will continue this little idea sometime in the near future. I've already got an idea for part two working its way into my mind. ;)
Hope you all enjoyed!