Three Families : Forbidden Hotel Room

A/N: Thanks for all the reviews! Keep on leaving them! I even got my friend, who doesn't even watch the show, to read it! Boo ya! Hahahha. Um, there may be a little bit of flashback in this chapter. Nothing major... I think. Read and Review please!

I

Hiei opened the door for the assistant. It struck her as odd, the Boss of the Jaganshi Family being polite. She slipped inside the car, watching Hiei make his way around to the drivers side. His ruby red eyes were shimmering in the moonlight as he started the car.

"Can you direct me to the house?"

Botan nodded, her eyes on the road.

"Sure, but we're not going to my Aunt's."

Hiei raised an eyebrow, glancing at the assistant out of the corner of his big eyes.

"We're not?"

She turned to him. There was something in her eyes that made him question just how truly innocent she was.

"No. I've got a place, a hotel room." He nodded, silently demanding for her to elaborate. "It's always under my name. We'll be able to stay there for a few days. Just up to when the gathering at my Aunt's happens."

The ride was silent. On the highway, two other cars were on either side of them. Yusuke and Kurama, and then Jin. They were silent for a bit.

"Do you believe in karma?"

Botan blinked.

"W-what?"

Hiei grumbled angrily, not happy that he had to repeat himself.

"I said, do you believe in karma?"

The assistant chewed her lower lip as she looked at the ceiling in thought.

"Karma?" She licked her lips. "Karma's a funny thing." A sigh left her mouth. "It seems that if you earn bad karma... you never stop paying for it." Her eyes met his for a bit. "And when you get good karma... it never really gets... acknowledged."

The wheels of the car whirred on the asphalt. It was lulling the assitant's eyes slowly shut.

"So dark... for... your annoying happy-go-lucky persona."

Botan slouched in her seat, trying to get comfortable.

"It's not dark!" Even though she was a bit angry, she couldn't help but smile. "It's being realistic."

"Hn. Whatever."

She turned and let down her hair.

"What about you?" Botan ran her fingers through her hair, smoothing it out. "Do you believe in karma?"

The assistant pointed to an exit, and Hiei turned on the blinker.

"No, I don't."

Botan's voice was hoarse.

"Why not?"

He watched the rearview mirror to make sure that the rest of the crew were following him. They were.

"Because." He sped forward. "In my life, all I've ever seen is bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people." The car was shooting down the dead roads. "When that's fair, I'll believe in karma." Botan was speechless. "Until then, karma is an excuse for dreamers." A sharp turn. "I'm being realistic."

II

The boy tensed up immediately. He was not used to physical contact unless he was getting his face beaten into the pavement. He pushed the girl off of him.

"What the hell are you doing?"

She blinked.

"You... you saved me... you lied for me... a complete stranger." She wrung her hands even though they were covered with mittens. "I want to thank you."

The little boy was getting uneasy even though he had two hundred dollars from the days work. He was not used to... socializing.

"F-fine. Just... just make it quick so I can go."

She nodded and before the thief could prepare himself, two warm and slightly damp lips were pressed against his cheek. Before that... he had never been kissed in any fashion. He was paralyzed with the compassionate and overall kind action. She pulled back and saw his startled expression.

"What?"

The silence was long. The two children just stared at each other. If only they knew. If only they knew just how different they really were.

But that didn't matter. Back then, they were both as innocent as they could be. The little boy knowing nothing of death and the true harshness of society. He was just a pick-pocket. The little girl... was just a little girl. She liked teddy bears with red bows tied around their necks. She wasn't a fan of having her hair combed, but she did like it when her mother let her wear it down.

"Why?" His hands brushed over his cheek. "Why did you do that?"

Her brow was furrowed. On her neck was a silver chain. The boy had to squint to see that it was a cross.

"It's how my family says thank you to 'those who are worthy'."

The boy could have left then, without asking any questions or completing his actions. But there was something in her eyes that told him to stay. Just a little longer.

"Your family... are they nice people?"

The girl gave him a kind of half shrug, her smile fading a bit.

"They're alright. My mom loves me, but my Aunt and Uncle... they love me, but I don't think they like me." The thief let himself drift into silence. "What about you?" He looked up. "What about your family?"

His answer was short and cold.

"I don't have a family."

III

Yusuke stopped the car outside of the Hilton hotel. Kurama got out, stretching his legs. The Advisor was the second to get out, pulling out a cigarette, giving it a puff. He saw Jin roll up, pulling into a parking space. It was more like two parking spaces because he was so worked up he didn't really care about the neatness of the job.

The two men watched as Jin literally hopped out of the car while it was still moving. He quickly jumped back in the car and shut if off. He finally ended up with Yusuke and Kurama, his face red as he caught his breath.

"Why are we here?" A gasp for oxygen. "Did...?" Another gasp. "Did something go wrong?"

The Second in Command frowned as he gazed over at the car that held Hiei and Botan.

"We don't know. They haven't come out yet."

That was when a door opened and Botan stepped out. She waited for Hiei to open his door, and the two approached the rest of the group. She was smiling, and Yusuke could tell she had been asleep just seconds before. That was why they took along time to get out of the car. Hiei must have not wanted to wake her up.

"Hi." She swallowed a yawn. "I... I've got a room on constant reserve here. Just wait here, and I'll get us in, okay?"

Yusuke nodded and Kurama followed suit quickly. Jin was still catching his breath. Botan smiled as she spun around and jogged to the entrance.

As soon as her back was turned to them, her smile vanished. The butterflies are back. Her stomach was twisting itself in knots. A part of her wanted to go in. To do what she had to do. To say those magic words.

A bigger part of her, an older and more aware part of her, was terrified.

It's okay. It's okay. You're alone. No one is around. Just you. She shook out her arms. Just you. Everything is okay. A deep breath was taken. Just those words. Those magic words. She pushed open glass doors and approached the desk. The woman at the front looked up, and her eyes widened. She obviously remembered last year. It looks like... I don't need those magic words.

When the assistant came back out, she was more awake.

"Okay, everything checks out. Let's go!"

She hoped that they didn't see her shivering. They followed her and up they went in the elevator. Right up to the Presidential Suite.

Yusuke felt his hazel eyes widen.

"You reserve the Presidential Suite?"

Hiei crossed his arms.

"Look, no offense, but how can Librarian's assistant afford this... year round?"

Botan slipped the card into the card key. It turned green and she opened the door.

IV

The Boss glared into the room. It was... really nice. The room was huge... and the sheets on the bed felt like water. Jin and the others walked in with their mouths open. Hiei just had his arms crossed as he lifted up his nose.

"I think I have a spare bed and a pullout mattress in the couch." She yawned and flopped onto the bed. "I've... I've got breakfast coming in the morning..."

She fell asleep without even taking off her shoes. Kurama smiled as he found the couch, pulling out the mattress. Yusuke found the bed and it was single. Hiei got the single bed. The three men had to squeeze onto one mattress.

Hiei stayed up, and when everyone was unconscious, he went to Botan's bed. He untied her shoes, letting them drop to the floor. She didn't even flinch. The Boss smirked as he pulled the covers straight out from under her. In one pull, the assistant was tucked into bed.

Hiei stepped backwards, falling onto the single bed. He was asleep before his head hit the pillow.

He stirred when he heard a knock on the door. He groaned and turned over, his shoulders up to his ears as he tried to block out the noise. A louder pounding was his answer.

"Go... away..."

Knock. Knock.

"Room service! Your breakfast is ready, ma'am."

"I said... go... away!"

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Please, it's our chef's best!"

Hiei grumbled as he lifted himself out of bed. He walked over to the door, still growling as he opened it.

"You called?"

The delivery boy stared at the Boss with wide eyes. Hiei managed to hide his arm by leaning on it. That was when Hiei remembered that he forgot to put something over his black boxers.

"Y-yes... Ms. Botan's breakfast is ready." The boy peered in the room, seeing all the other occupants. "I see why so much food was requested."

Hiei managed to crack a pained smile as he brought the cart of food inside. The wheels were squeaky and it hurt his ears in the early morning. His men were instantly awake with the smell of food. Yusuke opened his eyes to see Hiei pulling on his shirt and pants, but he was soon distracted by the food.

Jin rubbed his eyes as Kurama pushed himself up onto his stomach. Hiei saw that there were three main platters. His face was still cool as ice as he lifted one of the tops to the platters.

Pancakes. Hiei quickly lifted up the other tops to see scrambled eggs, potatoes, and toast. Even he had to admit that it did smell good. Jin and Yusuke started to fight for a plate, Kurama slipping past them and beginning to feast upon the food.

Botan woke up to see Jin smearing ketchup on the Advisor's face, who in turn was running maple syrup through the Irishman's red hair. She brought the sheets up to her chin. All she could do was watch and giggle herself awake. That was when she realized at the Boss was sitting on her bed.

"It's sad..." His eyes were watching Kurama and Jin laugh as they wrestled together on the ground. "These men have killed before... that is why they are with me... and yet they still eat breakfast like two year olds." He chewed slowly on a pancake. His head rolled back so he could see her. "You still haven't explained how you can afford this."

Botan smiled.

"I can get by."

"Hn." He took another bite of his egg. "You say that now."

V

Mukuro woke up slowly. Her eye was still adjusting to the focus as she called her Soldiers into the room.

"Where is he?" She stood, and they had to catch her as she lost her balance. "Where's Hiei?"

One of the men grunted as he supported her.

"He went to New Jersey."

The Boss of the Makai family rolled her eye as she turned on the television. It was on CNN, and to her astonishment, she saw that woman... the blue haired woman. The Boss felt the thrill of the kill rising and rising.

"Would you look at that!" She laughed. "She's going to be fun to kill!"

The Soldiers were wide eyed as they watched the screen. They were silent as they looked at each other, a fear eating away at their very souls. Sure, they were killers. They were ruthless when they had to be.

But as they watched the screen, they felt their insides turn into cold spaghetti.

Their eyes told each other that they could not and would not kill that woman. If they did, God knows what would happen!

A shiver passed through them.

It could even start World War III.

VI

The members of the Jaganshi Family stayed at the hotel for as long as they were needed to. It was about four o'clock on Christmas Eve and Botan opened a big cabinet.

Hiei saw very nice dresses inside. The clothes that he had bought her were nothing compared to what lay inside that closet. She pushed dresses aside and the team saw tuxedos. Just enough for all of them.

"Here." Botan took them out, and she looked at Hiei. "Put these on, I can fix them up later."

Hiei looked at Kurama, who raised an eyebrow.

"Why do you want us to wear this, onna?"

Botan was holding a necklace in her mouth as she dug around on the bottom of the closet.

"Because..." She opened a hidden compartment at the bottom. "You are going to be my guests."

Yusuke coughed on the beer that he was drinking.

"Guests? How are you going to pass us off as guests?"

The assistant's pink eyes were hooded slightly.

"My word is substantial enough!" The four men just stared intensely into her eyes. "And you get... these!"

She took out a box. Opening it, she showed them pins. College pins. They were the size of a pea, but they held the brand of Harvard. Princeton. Rutgers. The Second in Command rose a red eyebrow.

"These are going to pass us off as normal?"

Botan smiled.

"Sure." She winked. "They'll get you past security."

Hiei blinked.

"Security?"

VII

"What do you mean? Everyone has a family."

The boy glared at the little girl.

"Well I don't."

They were both quiet. That was when the girl spoke, her voice so soft and unsure, it was cute.

"Um... what's your name?" The boy looked up at her, not speaking. "I... I would like to know the name of... of the boy that... kind of... saved my life."

For such a small girl, she was very fluent in English. Her words just came naturally. The boy had his hands in his pockets, and his hands twitched.

"Fine, but only if you do one thing."

The small girl narrowed her eyes.

"What is it?"

His lips were turned downwards in an icy frown. Her lips were being chewed on.

"You have to... tell me yours... but in turn..."

The girl bounced.

"What? What do I have to do?"

Their eyes locked.

"Let me... let me... return the gesture so we're even, okay?"

The little girl was not entirely sure about what the boy was talking about. She nodded.

"Okay."

The little boy had been hoping that she refused. For the first time, he blushed, trying to psyche himself out. But it was already decided. He had to do it. So she had nothing on him. So he would not be in debt to her.

His small hand reached up to her face. The girl was still, not knowing what to expect. She allowed herself to think about how dry and coarse his hands were for such a young boy.

"Thank you for... thanking me." He had to stand up on his toes and lean forward, and he covered her lips with his. It wasn't romantic. They were young. Too young. It was innocent. Pure. Something completely different. He felt that her face was warm. He talked against her lips. "My name is Hiei Jaganshi."

He pulled back. Her eyes were wide, but she was not angry. She still stood up straight. She still had her one hand on the door. Her blood was still important.

"Hiei..."

Hiei the thief turned and began to walk away. The girl was still outside the hotel door. He spoke to her without turning to look at her.

"Aren't you going to go in now?"

Her eyes... they were... a mixture of many things. Sadness was one emotion shimmering through. But the other... it was more carnal. It felt as if... some kind of... tie or bond had formed...

"Wait! Hiei, wait!"

This time the pickpocket turned.

"What?"

She was still intimidated by his unemotional front.

"I-I... my name is... Botan." She curtsied. "Have a good life."

Hiei gave a curt nod and was walking swiftly down the hallway again. Botan stared after him, but soon realized she should knock on the door. Her knuckles rapped against the wood. Behind that door lay her Aunt, Uncle, and their young son. Behind that door was a world that Hiei the thief couldn't possibly imagine. Behind that door, Botan was different. Not in looks or personality. But in value. In true responsibility and destiny.

VIII

A/N: I'll be frank, I LOVED all the reviews I got last chapter. If you want the Christmas Eve bash, the new romance, and the BIGGEST TWIST IN FANFICTION HISTORY... then I would review (nudge, nudge, wink, wink). Hahha. I would really like to know what you think on his one. I worked hard, and obviously I have no life because I work so hard on it. Lol. Please Review! Really, I want to continue, and reviews make things go faster lol. They make me happy. Woot!