Cynical Santa : Woke up Drunk
A/N: Thanks for the reviews! I guess you really do want me to continue! Well, okay, if you thought that the last chapter was depressing, or funny... well... I was intending for a blend of both. Besides... at least we have cake! Hahaha. Okay, Read and Review if you want more! And I know you do!
I
Ugh... A twitch. A sniffle. A HEADACHE! Hiei moaned and rolled over under the warm covers. Wait a minute... WARM COVERS? The Koorime jolted awake and tried to sit up, but his head was pounding. All he could do was turn over onto his stomach. He inhaled, his face pressed in a soft and cushy pillow.
This smells like... the onna. Hiei pushed himself up so he was leaning against the pillows. His head was throbbing and he bit his lips. What... happened last night...? The only thing I remember is... eating a cookie and passing out...
A moan emerged into the air. And Hiei was not the one who produced it. The demon looked at the floor.
The onna was sleeping with her back against the wall, her neck slipping to the side. Hiei saw her shift a bit. Why is the baka onna sleeping on the floor? Hiei looked around saw that he was taking up her bed. Duh.
She blinked and rubbed her eyes, groaning as she sat up. She licked her dry lips and mewed a bit as she stretched. It took her a while to realize she was being watched.
"Oh! Hiei!" She saw him wince at her voice. She covered her mouth and whispered. "Sorry." She smiled at him wearily. "Are you feeling better?"
The fire demon closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"No."
"Oh..." She stood and rubbed her shoulders, hissing as she touched some painful spots. "I'll make you some breakfast." She was gone before Hiei could say anything, even object. She came back a little while later, smiling sheepishly. "Here, drink this."
Hiei took a glass of white fluid and peered at it.
"What is it?"
Botan smiled a bit faintly. Too faintly. Hiei didn't like it.
"It's milk. Don't worry, just drink it."
He sipped it, his red eyes widened a bit and he sipped it more.
"Hn."
Botan nodded a bit halfheartedly. She leaned against the wall. Hiei sat it. He saw her pink eyes lose that light. He saw her legs wobble, and her knees buckle. But he couldn't catch her. She looked at him, her blue hair frizzy and her eyes frazzled.
"I'm... dizzy..."
And she fainted. The demon tried to get up, but his legs failed him. He struggled. He failed, and he seethed as all he could do was watch Botan's breaths get shallower and shallower. So, Hiei did the one thing that he thought he would never do.
Closing his eyes, the Koorime searched for the one man that would know what had happened to the onna. The one man that Hiei hated, but knew he had to place his trust in. Green, red, and white flashed under his eyelids. And he finally came to the mind he was searching for.
Bernard! Get over here!
II
Koenma tapped his pencil on his desk.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Botan hadn't come in. She was an hour late. And that wasn't a good thing.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The Prince frowned. Who was in her apartment? Why was she making people happy all the time? And most of all, why did Hiei look like some sort of addict about to die?
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Koenma bit his lower lip. Hard. Maybe he should go over. Yes. Yes that was the best decision. Botan might be hurt. She may need his assistance.
Snap!
The pencil was broken.
III
"What in Kringle's name did you DO?"
Bernard was shaking Hiei, who was glaring at him, almost setting the elf's long black curls on fire.
"I didn't do anything! She fainted!" The Koorime shoved Bernard off of him. "Fix her! NOW!"
The elf looked at the blue haired girl. His eyes were misty, and for once, Hiei was scared. Not the onna! She doesn't deserve this! His fists tightened around her white blankets. None of this... none of this... should be happening to her of ALL people!
"Don't get yourself too worked up, buddy." Hiei snapped back to reality. He saw the elf had Botan in his arms, and he was feeling her face. He frowned a bit, his eyes darkening. "She's cold. But she'll be ok." He put his forehead against hers, and Hiei almost thought that the boy was going to kiss the onna. Something stabbed him with that thought. He pushed the pain aside. "She didn't get any sleep. If she was asleep like you said, it was only for a minute."
She stayed awake? Hiei gazed with his blood red eyes at the ferry girl. Why?
"She's... not... dying?"
Bernard laughed, but the Koorime thought he heard a broken nerve behind it.
"No! Oh Heavens no!" He shifted so that Botan was leaning on the elf's chest. "She's just really tired."
But the elf would not meet his eyes. In a flash, Hiei pulled out his katana and gracefully dodged Botan and had the blade to Bernard's throat. The fire demon faltered, seeing as he was on his stomach, still losing strength.
"Tell me, and don't lie. I'll know."
Bernard looked Hiei in the eyes, and the demon saw many things behind those dark eyes. He saw magic. He saw joy. He saw... himself reflected back at him.
"She's just exhausted from looking after you all night." Another stab of... something. "Um, she's... she too is under the Santa Clause."
The demon snarled and pressed the blade into his throat, a small spot of blood appearing.
"What?" Hiei whispered dangerously low. "It was only supposed to be me!"
Bernard got that distant look in his eyes again.
"Tell you what," Bernard lifted Botan up, pushing Hiei's katana aside, "take her." Hiei didn't have a chance to say anything before he was being moved aside and the covers being pulled down. "Just made sure she doesn't roll off the bed and that she stays warm, okay?"
"No."
Bernard sent Hiei an icy glare.
"Do you want her to get better, or not?"
A silence. A small gasp of a breath from Botan.
"Hn."
Bernard took that as a 'yes'.
"Good." He tucked the ferry girl in the bed beside the fire demon. "Listen, Santa, or Hiei..." Hiei sat up a bit. "She will get better. For now. You'll figure out how to help her." Bernard looked like he might cry, and it was so out of character for him that Hiei was positive that he was wrong. "I hope you do."
Tucking Botan in next to Hiei, Bernard disappeared into the kitchen, and the door of the apartment slammed open.
Everyone froze. Koenma was panting at the door, in his teenage form. Hiei found that he couldn't breath. He was in a terrible position, and it didn't look good no matter how you looked at it. Botan was asleep, and was very close to him. Bernard looked at him and pointed at him with his thumb casually, as if he had never seen the Prince of Hell before.
"Who's this joker?"
Koenma blinked a bit angrily and glared at the elf.
"I should be asking you the same question! Who are you? What are you doing? And Hiei... WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING WITH BOTAN IN BED?"
Bernard's eyes widened and he stuck a finger in his ear.
"Chill out man! Give a couple some privacy."
Hiei's arms tightened around the ferry girl.
"WE'RE NOT A COUPLE!"
Bernard turned, and he looked like a desperate man. His eyes were wide, and his cheeks were paling.
"Yes you ARE!"
Koenma tugged at his hair.
"WHO ARE YOU?"
The elf ignored the Prince and went to Hiei and Botan's bed. He had a cookie and gave it to Hiei, who chewed in it as he glared at the elf. The room was suddenly hushed as Bernard drew close to Hiei, his face inches away from the great Hiei Jaganshi. He was so close that they might as well have been embracing.
"You take care of Botan, okay?" Hiei didn't answer, and Bernard grabbed his collar, pulling them so their noses collided. "You got it?"
Hiei blinked like he was bored.
"Hn. Sure."
And with that, Bernard dissolved into the golden dust that seemed to hold a magic all its own.
IV
Botan's apartment was dim. Candles were the only light source. Hiei still remained in bed, too weak to move. Botan was still sleeping on beside him. And Koenma still wanted answers to his questions.
"Hiei." Hiei was staring off into space. "Hiei!"
The Koorime hissed.
"Quiet!"
Koenma swallowed his loud anger and lowered his voice to an airy whisper.
"What in Dad's name is going on? Who was that man?"
Hiei's eyes were starting to drift shut. He knew he was going lose the battle against sleep.
"Bernard..."
Koenma almost slapped the fire demon.
"What is he?"
Hiei was half asleep now.
"Arch elf... The Santa Clause..."
And then Koenma was the only person in the room conscious. The Prince saw the demon slip into a deep and peaceful sleep, his features relaxing from their usual grimace or scowl. Koenma sighed and went to move some blue hair out of Botan's face.
A low and guttural growl made the Prince step back. Hiei's face crinkled in menace, even in his sleep. Koenma took a deep breath. A bit touchy, are we? Hiei pulled Botan closer to him, and the ferry girl moaned as she wrapped her arms around him, savoring his demon warmth.
Shaking his head, the Prince of Hell walked out. He'd get answers later. No use staying... seeing as two friends were asleep in each other's arms. But they aren't friends. Hiei hates Botan. Koenma looked over his shoulder and remembered how Hiei protectively tightened his grip on the ferry girl in his sleep. Maybe not so much hatred after all.
V
"Did we make a mistake?" Bells and tinkers of toys were in the background, but it was lost in the conversation. "Did the Clause make a mistake?"
A sigh. Bangs were pushed back from eyes.
"No, Judy. The Clause doesn't make mistakes." Eyes wandered. "It is people who screw it up."
A feminine giggle was heard.
"It will work out." She let out an exasperated breath. "Besides, stubbornness can only help a man, or demon, for so long. He will crack."
"Good. Than I guess we have nothing to worry about."
"I guess so."
VI
So... warm... mhm...
Botan couldn't remember passing out. Her head did feel better now. Before, she had the most horrible headache! But it was gone now. And I'm so warm...
She snuggled closer to the heat source, which was probably a pillow.
Wait... this pillow is... is...
Her pink eyes opened lazily. At first, she couldn't get them to focus. She saw black. And she felt the rough scratch of a bandage on her hip. She took a breath and smelled a dark and yet alluring smell. Like... like fire and rain. Burning wood. I love that smell...
And that was when she realized that she was cuddling with Hiei Jaganshi. Agh! I have to get away! Before he wakes up! Botan took a deep breath, gathered her courage, and tried to slip out from the fire demon's arms.
But she wouldn't budge. She moved a bit more forcefully, but then she was stopped again. She felt an odd... vibrating against her chest. And that was when she realized that Hiei was growling. Botan squirmed. It tickled. He was holding onto her tightly. His mouth was by neck, and every time he exhaled, she had to fight the urge to shiver.
Oh Kami... IF HIEI BREATHES LIKE THAT AGAIN... no...
The ferry girl let out a low moan. Part of it was frustration that she couldn't get loose, along with fear. The other part... well... she didn't want to think about. She knew that if Hiei woke up, she would be yelled at. But I didn't do this... I was... wasn't in my bed. I let him sleep in it!
"Hiei!" Botan pushed on his well toned stomach. "Wake up!"
A grunt. A groan. His hands twitched and then began to wander up and down her sides, lazily. The ferry girl, flustered and desperate, pinched Hiei in the side. And she didn't show any mercy. His hands stopped. His breath caught. And his arms loosened.
"Onna..."
Botan sighed and relaxed, allowing herself to lean on the fire demon.
"You were... squeezing me." She giggled softly. "I didn't want to scare you when you woke up."
Hiei moved away from her slowly and smirked darkly and amused and yet... unamused.
"You would never scare me, baka onna."
Botan chuckled.
"Right." A pause, the two seemingly forgot that they had been sleeping in each other's arms not a short while ago. "What happened last night?" The ferry girl held Hiei's crimson eyes. "How am I in my bed? Did you put me here?"
The demon didn't look into her eyes for a long moment. He caved with a sigh and sat up in bed, causing Botan to pull the sheets around her.
"No. Bernard did. You fainted."
The ferry girl looked at the kitchen.
"What about you? Are you okay?"
The demon frowned, and he looked annoyed.
"I'm fine, onna."
A long silence.
"Why did I faint?"
VII
Hiei woke up very fast because of a minor pain at his side. He felt very... very... content. He smelled something... delicious... and his hands were... were...
SHIT!
Hiei jolted and moved up and away from the ferry girl as fast as he could. He saw her eyes, and she giggled softly. Too softly.
She told him that he was squeezing her. But Hiei knew what he had been doing. He had been... holding her. Tightly. Maybe. Who knows? She asked him how he got there. If he was okay. And then the one question that the Koorime dreaded.
Why did I faint?
The fire demon couldn't bring himself to lie. I'm no liar.
"It was... the Santa Clause."
Hiei watched without emotion as her face paled and she trembled.
"B-but... I t-thought that it was you that was... becoming... S-santa."
Hiei saw her panic. He saw the images of her job... her friends... her life flashing before those pink eyes of hers. Silence. She didn't cry. She was able to stand, and Hiei found that his strength had returned. He watched the onna take some coffee and drink it.
Her hands were shaking.
The two remained like that. In a painting of tense and harsh emotions. Botan sat at the counter, her hair slipping out of its ponytail and her eyes misty as she stared into her cup, as if she was looking for something.
And then there was the warrior. The infamous thief who was tangled up in something that he could never, ever, handle. He was a fire demon. Not a magical entity. He was a fighter. Not a person to feel pity for another. Not a man who would sympathize and comfort.
And the two were frozen in time. Just like that. It was beautiful. Some would say tragic. Some would say hopeful. It just depended whose eyes you were looking out of.
Botan turned and looked at Hiei.
"What happens when you have to go back?"
Hiei frowned.
"What?"
The ferry girl smiled sadly.
"When Bernard calls you back to the North Pole. What are you going to do?"
Hiei bit his lower lip a bit. He didn't want to think about it.
"Hn. Don't talk so much, baka onna."
And that was when Botan stood, the chair scraping against the tile. She walked up to him, and her pink eyes flickered with fear and uncertainty.
"Hiei... don't kill me for this." Before the Koorime could move, she hugged him. It was gentle. It would have been nothing. But Hiei felt his muscles tense with the contact. His face felt odd... like it was warm. He couldn't move. He was paralyzed. "Please..."
A breathless moment. Until Hiei returned the embrace awkwardly, like a machine would.
"Onna..." Botan bit her lip. She wasn't sure if she wanted to hear what Hiei was going to say. She was terrified. You don't go and hug Hiei Jaganshi and live to tell the tale. "I would... never kill you."
She giggled.
"I'm glad."
They were still in each other's arms.
VIII
A/N: Hey! It wasn't as sad as the last one, was it? I hope not. SO-o, the romance is progressing. And you will love what I have in store for these two! Oh, and was Hiei OOC? I might have made him OOC... I hope not. Oh well, REVIEW please! Love ya!
-mia
p.s. Please, if you want to watch a wonderful film that will make you laugh, cry, and love every single main character, watch Little Miss Sunshine. It's amazing. 5/5 stars from orphan mia!