This is the second chapter of the eventual lemony story. Enjoy!

Each couple with the exception of Botan and Hiei had gone in separate directions, each going to some performance or demonstration that had interested them. Hiei walked around by himself, looking this way and that, how primeval this all seemed, how accurate from what he had glanced long ago. He quickly noticed that other patrons, dressed in garb and others that were not, were looking at him. A few girls dressed in court dresses were whispering to each other, he heard smatterings of the whispers as he was absorbed looking at some of the battle ready swords.

"He looks like a prince, we should take him to the King and Queen…" His eyebrows slammed together, a king and queen? Just the extra agitation he needed. One of the girls walked up beside him placing a hand on his shoulder to get his attention. He turned to look at her, the court dress she wore was like a vest that laced up the front and having tails that went farther out and had quite a bit of length to it nearly touching the ground. She wore chemise underneath the top portion of the dress, and an additional skirt, underneath the lower portion. She wore royal colors which at this particular faire were a sort of dark red and a royal purple.

"Yes?" he spoke evenly, fairly sure that these specific girls were performers. He fully turned to face the other two that had hesitantly followed after the bold one.

"Would you come with us to meet the King and Queen?" Inwardly he rolled his eyes, he said he would be on his best behavior. By damn he was going to do so.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of such an audience?" he spoke coolly keeping an even tone to his voice. He slowly followed after the girls and was standing in front of the King and Queen.

"Are you part of a new troupe this year young man?" The King spoke brusquely. Hiei arched an eyebrow slightly. Troupe.. ah a performance group. A word he didn't hear very often almost threw him for a loop.

"No, your majesty. I come as a mere patron along with other commrads." Hiei had bowed slightly, and pointed out the various memebers of the group at different places. Who were starting to get a lot of attention placed on them. Each in turn ended up in the different areas, Kurama ended up displaying his ability with a whip. You could hear some general squealing coming from the girls and women alike over in that area. The fox was always such a pretty boy that most girls fell easily. Yusuke somehow ended up with a bow and arrow. Once he was shown how to hold and fire, he ended up being a crack shot with the English long bow. Kuwabara ended up in a performance ring actually going against another performer in an actual sword fight. Each in turn ended up in a situation where they used their weapon of choice in some format.

"Are you sure that you are not performers? Your friends seem to know what they are doing." The Queen had spoken this time. Once again an inward eye roll, a small smirk and he responded.

"No ma'am we are not. We each just have interesting hobbies." Not a lie, but not the truth either. He cast his gaze out at the expansive field where everything was being held. Trees for shade, food vendors with rather authentic time period food, tents with merchandise for sale, performers.. this had become quite the operation. He spied that powder blue hair at a distance and watched her slightly. He noticed she had her hand out at arms length backing up slowly shaking her head. She seemed to be speaking to a very large man that continued to advance towards her. His arms spread out in a gesture that might same come here.

"Is something the matter?" The Queen spoke again. He snapped his attention back to the Ren Faire Royalty in front of him. Gesturing in Botan's direction.

"My apologies for being rude.. It's just one of the girls from our group seems to be, being harassed. I believe I need to go to her aid." He stepped out of the way so that they had a view of what was going on.

"Not him again, this fellow is from another troupe who come in as the evil doers for the shows. However this guy takes it too far. Taking advantage of the faires, and of the situation." The King angrily spoke. The Queen looked kindly at Hiei.

"Sweetie thank you for your time in speaking to us, go help your friend." Hiei had been edging down the stairs to go do just that. He tossed a quick thank you over his shoulder before running –at human speed- towards the altercation. This pace seemed to Hiei, who was used to being able to get to one place or another at much higher speeds, was mind blowing slow. He soon caught up to the area, hearing Botan denying this large man again.

"Sir I said no, I do not want to take part in the show. I do not want to go with you anywhere." There was a crowd of people who had begun to form. None had moved to even help lower the ever escalating situation. Just as the man reached to grab Botan's wrist Hiei slipped up next to her with a hand on her shoulder.

"The lady said no." Hiei spoke as neutrally as possible. Bristling slightly at this man even attempting to touch Botan with his disgusting hands. It made him want to rip off – wait what? Hiei blinked at the man who then stood up to his full height, standing at about 6'9" compared to Botan's 5'5" and Hiei's similar height of 5'7". Hiei had some how grown within the last year… He had no desire to, it just happened on it's own. He has yet to discover the exact source that had come to make this event pass.

"and who do you think you are little man?" his booming voice meant to intimidate a lesser person. Hiei quirked and eyebrow at this man and said.

"Her escort, all ladies need one when out among the commoners such as yourself." Hiei hit a nerve the man spoke gain, with irritation evident in his voice.

"I find that hard to believe there kid, such a woman deserves much better than someone such as you." Hiei barked out a laugh.

"Is that a challenge that I hear you issuing?" He watched Botan out of the corner of his eye. Her face turned bright red and she buried her face in one hand as the other was currently clenched at her side. Then so it went, a challenge was issued by this large man who was known by the name of Hugo, how almost befitting…

"The challenge goes as follows, on horseback both men are to go through multiple obstacles. The first being able to weave in and out between these hay bales as quickly as possible. The second, using swords once again on horseback, slice through these mounted pumpkins, all must be cut in order to advance on. The third and final obstacle is to use the jousting swords, and get these six rings on to the weapon. Then down the lane to the maiden at the end, you must sweep her from the ground into your saddle without coming off of the horse." An announcer spoke these terms and both nodded. Hiei wondered how he got himself into this position. All he was trying to do was to prevent… He wasn't sure what he was trying to do. He hadn't ridden a horse much so wasn't up to par as to how to handle the beast. He would have to rely on the more or less combat portion to catch him up and pass Hugo.

"Riders ready?" They both were. A crowd had quickly begun to form, in the stands that were present. Great just what he needed a crowd… The announcer, yelled for them to go. Hugo on a Bay Mare, jumped ahead almost automatically easily weaving in and out between the hay bales. Hiei was close behind on another Mare, this one was mostly white except for its legs. Hiei tried to weave as much as he could, as tightly as he could but still fell behind. Rather quick that portion was done. Hugo had stopped to grab the sword out of sheath that was offered to him. Hiei sped down the way, leaning out from the horse reaching and grabbing the hilt of the sword. The sword making a wondrous sound of metal on metal as it rang out of the sheath.

"Did you all see that?! What an excellent display of thinking on your feet!" how annoying… the announcer was narrating the damn thing. Hiei reared his arm back slicing at each pumpkin as quickly as he could –humanly- five, six, seven, eight. Hugo was catching up pretty quick having stopped to grab his sword. Four, five six, seven. They were dead even as they both sliced through the tenth and last pumpkin. He drew the horse short as he had to go slower to grab the lance. He had been given quick instruction on how to hold the lance. Across the horse's neck never beside. Hold it up straight until he needs to drop it down to catch the rings. Once again Hiei had to rely on his accuracy. Hugo had pulled ahead two three rings, missed the fourth he would have to circle back around to get it.

"Last opportunity to pull as far ahead as possible!" the announcer spoke about Hiei. Lowering the lance he hit each, three, four, five… The last ring bounced at the tip of his lance, with some slight movement he got it to stay on. He dropped the lance, now came the flat out race down the list to Botan. Hugo had gotten the last ring and dropped his lance as well only two lengths behind Hiei.

"you had better be ready woman." He said telepathically to Botan, her head shot up and he knew she had heard him. Now it came down to who could get there the fastest. Hugo quickly became neck and neck with Hiei. The advantage to being shorter, most times a person weighed less. This was to Hiei's advantage as he barely pulled ahead, not even slowing as he leaned out on his horse again to grab Botan's outstretched hand. Yanking her up from where she was told to sit, the centrifugal force caused her to flip back around and land on the back of Hiei's saddle. There had been an overall gasp from the audience as Hiei turned his horse and headed back towards the starting point at a good canter. Botan had her arms wrapped around his chest, clinging to him like he was her life support. She hoped he couldn't feel her heart pounding as hard as it was. A slight smirk from Hiei, he could feel her heart, he wanted to feel more…

"Astounding! What a wonderful comeback!" There were cheers and applause as Hiei, came to a stop finally. Glancing at the stands with mild interest and then away. He quickly looked back again, and balked. The entirety of the group had seen the whole thing. Yusuke and Kuwabara whooping and hollering at the top of their lungs. Hiei let the reigns to the horse fall, a squire grabbed the reigns holding the horse still, as Hiei climbed off of the large beast. He held up a hand to help Botan off the horse. She took it and slid off the horse, unfortunately falling to the ground. Her legs felt like jelly, and she couldn't get up. She herself was astounded, did he really do all that… for her?

"I guess it is good that the group is camping here for the whole faire." Hiei said as he helped her up only to pick her up and walk towards what was called the mundane camp. Where all the other performers, and patrons who wanted to stay were staying at.

"What do you make of it? I haven't got the slightest idea…" Yusuke said as they all descended from the stands.

"Maybe the atmosphere of the faire is bringing out Hiei's chivalrous side." Shizuru said as he followed after Kurama.

"I agree, this faire may have actually done some good." Kurama said, turning to wait for the others. As the faire was drawing to a close for the night.

"It will be whether the attitude sticks to Mr. Hiei after the faire, will it do some real good." Yukina replied to the unspoken comment, that Keiko had been thinking.

"Maybe the worm would actually learn some decent manners!" Kuwabara all but shouted, the group laughed at that comment and preceded to walk to mundane camp. Up ahead Hiei was still carrying Botan.

"Hiei, you can put me down now. I can walk you know." She had, had her arms wrapped around his shoulders her chin leaning on his shoulder.

"You have to let go first…" That stung a bit. She did so, letting her feet hit the soil. The sun going down she walked to her tent, slipping off the boots.

"Hiei, I had fun today." Hiei nodded, he did too.

That is the end of the second chapter, please read and review. Love to see some feedback for this!