Disclaimer: I don't own YYH or the characters. I also don't own the songs "Counting Stars" by OneRepublic, "Glory" by Jim Brickman (which is a song Botan will simply be playing on the piano), "City of a Hill" by Casting Crowns, or "Kiss Me Slowly" by Parachute. Yup, lots of music in this chapter. ^_^

As a child, Botan had always enjoyed going to see plays to see the orchestra with her parents and siblings. Those experiences had caused her to develop love for music, playing the piano especially. Her parents had always been supportive, hiring her a piano teacher when she was young. She had excelled quickly, and the instructor had nothing left to teach her. He had "graduated" her the year before her parents had passed away. The piano was one of the few things that helped her to be productive after they died.

Though she had mastered the art of playing the piano as a child, she wasn't a true composer, but she wanted to be. She wanted to write music that could convey emotions to others, bring them out. Being an empath, she sure as anything felt enough from other people. She didn't know how to go about doing any of it, though, and Shizuru and Kazuma were busy trying to hold the family together taking care of all of the girls. Botan had been on her own, but she told her best friends about her dreams.

Both Keiko and Yusuke had supported her desires. Keiko had bought her some books about music and the art of composing. Yusuke had other ideas, more…delinquent ideas. He had actually helped her sneak into a college class. He taught her to act like she belonged there even though she was only fourteen. Eventually they got found out, and her sister had grounded her, but she had already started the basics.

At school, there was a special music class where she could play the piano. At auditions, she played something she had been working on diligently by herself, and the teacher noticed that it was not a published tune. To the dismay of other students, Botan was selected for the class along with a few others. In addition, she took a music theory class that really helped her perfect her technique.

Kazuma continued to support her, and Hinageshi always loved hearing her play. Shizuru had grown indifferent to her and never came to her recitals. It had been disappointing. The woman used to support her, after all. Ruka had simply made fun of her, always laughing at her songs as she practiced, never appreciating the fine arts like she did. She believed Botan was deluding herself, told her she was a talentless fool and that no one would ever see her for more than the homewrecker she was.

Hiei did.

As surprising as that seemed, the man who had detested her so much the first time he met her had become her partner and confidant. They didn't sit around talking about their problems, but after learning just a bit more on both their parts they had an understanding. Hiei knew about her home life, or part of it, and about what happened between her and her two friends, and, likewise, Botan knew that Hiei had suffered from prejudice that had prevented him from growing up with his sister. That was all they really knew, and hardly any of the details. When they hung out, they usually sat in silence, rehearsed, played some freestyle on Botan's keyboard, or actually conversed about their classes.

Prior to all of this, it had been made clear to Botan that Hiei had had a preconceived notion of the type of person he expected her to be. He hadn't originally seen anything in her because of a label, or more like bad rumors of the kind of people in her town. When he had admitted as much, Botan actually laughed and agreed saying that her sister, Ruka, was probably responsible for a majority of the rumors. Hiei had scoffed at that muttering something sarcastic like "and she's the one who calls you a homewrecker."

Hiei had been able to see who she really was through her music, and he had found himself developing a strange friendship with the woman. That was what Botan loved most about music, that one could convey so many emotions and parts of him or herself through their work. She felt that way towards Hiei, too. Botan felt like she had learned a lot about Hiei through his play. Though she had heard of him originally from music magazines, she had never had the privilege of seeing him work. Now, she got to see him in action, experiencing the sensations herself.

It had been so surreal to see a man who concealed all emotions wear so many expressions. The way his eyes softened as he took on the role of his character, the torrent of emotions he conveyed in his every movement…Botan could see why he was so famous in the thespian world. He was nothing short of magnificent, and she had been sure to let him know that. The woman could have sworn she saw his cheeks redden that day despite his stoic façade. He was truly a conundrum.

Rehearsals had become even grander now that the set was coming together, and especially because Hiei and Botan were on the same wavelength. They shared much of their time together now and fell into a rhythm with each other. There were still so many mysteries about them shrouded in silence, but it was starting to feel like, during their rehearsals, practices, and songwriting, it was just the two of them against it all.

She had been watching his scene with due diligence. It was getting closer and closer to fall break, and they had nearly rehearsed the entire show at least once through. Some days, he didn't have her come to rehearsal, focusing on his other performers. Honestly, he never had a complaint about how she performed. She wondered if he saw her the same way she saw him, when she performed, but she really didn't have the courage to ask him yet.

"You've been doing well these last few weeks," Preston's father stated. "No missed meetings, making business deals and money. It's like you've become a different person, son. What changed?"

Preston scoffed and shook his head when the man called him "son." There was truly no relationship between the two. "You tell me. Maybe I've finally gotten over that sham of an engagement. Maybe I'm actually happy with life right now because I'm free of the albatross you set me up with." His answer made the man fume. "And maybe, just maybe, I actually care for the first time."

His father was skeptical upon seeing the look of reflection on the man's face. "Preston, have you met someone?"

"No," Preston lied, "and if I did, you'd be the last to know."

"You're still a disrespectful little shit," the CEO hissed. "Fine, then. Just know, whoever it is, they would not be welcomed, not unless I approve."

"I wouldn't care about your approval," Preston countered, looking out the window. "I would do whatever I want."

"You talk tough, brat, but remember that in the future. You could never make your own way. You'll only ever live in my shadow."

The actor playing Preston's father left the stage, Preston still staring out the window. Once he was alone, he smirked sardonically and chuckled. "Bastard," he spoke in amusement. "He knows nothing about me."

But Hope did. This was the part of the play that had followed a segment of Preston and Hope meeting so much in secret, unbeknownst to Preston's parents. He had appeared much happier that both patriarchs noticed a change in their son. Having more joy and energy in his life, Preston had become one of the top tycoons at the company, and he was becoming a more public name. Part of it was to appease his bastard of a father, but the other part was to distract himself from reality. He was still upset that Hope was betrothed to another, but he still planned to keep seeing her in hopes that they'd be able to be together and be happy. Perhaps, if he put all his energy into work and became the top businessman, he could insert himself and break off Hope's engagement. Her mother would only want her promised to a rich family. With him making a name for himself in the business world, maybe even her mother would be happy.

Shortly after he finished the dialogue portion of the scene, light music started playing, and Botan's attention was solely on Hiei. He didn't seem like the person to sing, but his voice was always soft and amazing, and very relaxing. "Lately, I've been, I've been losing sleep," he sang quietly, "dreaming about the things that we could be."

He leaned back against the windowsill of the set, crossing his arms dipping his chin downwards while looking pensive, "But baby, I've been, I've been praying hard. Said no more counting dollars. We'll be counting stars. Yeah, we'll be counting…stars."

The music took off becoming more fast-paced and the scenery changed revealing a living city, many people walking as sardines on the streets, light on Hiei as he looks around observing the colorless masses. "I see this life like a swinging vine, swing my heart across the line. In my face is flashing signs. Seek it out and ye shall find." The lights started flashing to mimic the flashing signs of the city.

And then the light stayed straight blue as Hiei pulled himself out of the crowd. "Old, but I'm not that old, young, but I'm not that bold, and I don't think the world is sold. I'm just doing what I'm told.

"I feel something so right doing the wrong thing, and I feel something so wrong doing the right thing," was the line that described his sneaking around with Hope, feeling completely right and at ease while doing his supposed duty felt wrong, and he was growing sick of the business world. It was only a means to an end for him to get Hope in the long run. "I could lie, could lie, could lie…

"Everything that kills me makes me feel alive."

As the refrain repeated twice more, a select few of the city folk were being hit with the colored lights, all a different color in darkness of the stage. The lights then all centered on Hiei once again as he sang about the feelings Preston had for his lover before he was thrown into a boring, company building. "I feel the love and I feel it burn down this river, every turn. 'Hope' is a four-letter word… Make that money, watch it burn."

"Old," the background dancers sang, to which Hiei answered, "but I'm not that old." They sang again, "Young."

"But I'm not that bold," Hiei responded. "I don't think the world is sold. I'm just doing what we're told…

"I feel something so wrong doing the right thing…"

The background dancers sang, "He could lie, could lie, could lie!"

Preston's response was a smirk as he jumped from the building just a small ways into a blue light signifying water, singing, "Everything that drowns me makes me wanna fly."

His background dancers sang the refrain twice again in place of Hiei as the scene changed and had 'Preston' meeting with many boards, making deals, raising money with paper money flying down everywhere he walked. As he passed the makeshift houses prop, he was being noticed by all of these people, including women who were starting to try to introduce themselves as he casually strode passed them, effectively ignoring them making his unattainable persona attract others even more. As this was going on, the background dancers disappeared into the crowd repeating the phrase, "Take that money; watch it burn. Sink in the river, the lessons are learned," over and over until it was nothing more than a whisper as Hiei looked towards a mansion, Hope's home, and glared at it hoping to be able to get Hope out of there some day.

The scene continued, though Botan needed to get back to what she had been doing. Truthfully, she was not supposed to be at rehearsal that day. She had told Hiei she needed to finish a song and submit a few songs to her advisor that day. Hiei, now having become friendlier with Botan and more understanding towards her needs, allowed her to skip rehearsal. Of course, Koto noticed. Botan had snuck in and had seen Hiei stand up for her to the woman telling her if she continued to harass him about his costar, she wouldn't even be an understudy. That shut Koto up really quickly.

Botan had needed a break, so she came to check on things as a break. Hiei had handled everyone there so well, and she was, as always, impressed. It was fun watching him perform knowing that she didn't have to go up there. It was like seeing one of Hiei's plays as an onlooker. It was nice.

She noticed that Hiei purposefully avoided scenes they would need to run together, probably avoiding having to work with Koto even a little bit. Botan didn't know this, but honestly Hiei was trying to avoid another incident where the woman had forced herself on him, forcing him to kiss her. No, he did not want that happening again. In his mind, after all, he'd never use her in his show, not ever.

Much later, after Hiei had been fully content with the scenes he and the other performers rehearsed, he headed towards Yukina's and Botan's apartment. Truthfully, he had gotten used to going there in the evenings to see his sister and Botan. They ate much better than he and his roommates, and so Yukina encouraged him to come. She also told him to invite the others, but Hiei preferred to visit them alone. He was sure Yukina could see through that.

As crazy as it sounded, the time he spent with Botan at the apartment was different than the time they spent at the school. Both of them became so laidback in each other's presence, and Hiei wanted to continue to feel it. The woman was actually…fun to be around. He should have seen that much earlier, but his mannerisms of keeping people at a distance would not let him see it. Now, his guard was down, but only around these two women. At first, if bothered him, but he didn't mind now. He felt like he was slowly changing, and he was at war with himself on whether or not it was a good or a bad thing.

Yukina had let him in and attempted to make small talk with him. He answered her usual questions, listened to her, and grunted out answers before he asked where Botan was. His twin smiled knowingly at him causing him to raise a brow at her. He wasn't sure if he liked that look on his sister's face, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Well?"

"Botan is in her room," Yukina told her. "She's been very happy since she got back. I couldn't get her to tell me anything yet. I think she's waiting to tell you whatever it is."

"Hn," Hiei responded, going off to the room, and he could hear Botan playing one of the most jovial songs he had ever heard her play. A smirk appeared on his features. He could hear the mood Botan was in. He knocked, and then the tune stopped. Though that was slightly disappointing, Hiei didn't mind when Botan came to answer the door. She smiled widely at him, yanking him into the room. She was so excited. Hiei looked over to the keyboard and saw that the name of the tune she was playing had been called "Victory."

"Hiei," she called enthusiastically. He found her excitement charming, though he wouldn't admit it and buried the thought deep down inside himself. "I want you to hear something. I submitted this song earlier, and my advisor loved it. "My first lyrical piano piece all on my own."

The actor grinned smugly and nodded. "Play it."

Botan beamed at him, thankful for the support. He went to sit on her couch, and she turned back to her keyboard and began to play lightly before she started singing her new tune. "'Did you hear of the city on the hill?' said one old man to the other. 'It once shined bright, and it would be shining still, but they all started turning on each other.'"

Hiei listened intently as Botan's playing was soft and solemn, matching the tone set by her words. Her voice was light and airy, passionate like the first time he had ever heard her, and he could tell that she worked very hard on this piece. He could only see her, the rest of the world disappearing to highlight her music. He felt like he was enchanted, and it didn't bother him that the woman had stolen his breath away. "You see the poets thought the dancers were shallow, and the soldiers thought the poets were weak, and the elders saw the young ones as foolish, and the rich man never heard the poor man speak.

"But one by one, they ran away, with their made up minds to leave it all behind, and the light began to fade in the city on the hill, the city on the hill…"

Botan smiled as she continued to play feeling Hiei's attention solely on her, as if he was studying her. She could feel his interest and surprisingly his thrill. "Each one thought that they knew better, but they were different by design. Instead of standing strong together they let their differences divide. And one by one, they ran away with their made up minds to leave it all behind, and the light began to fade in the city on the hill, the city on the hill…and the world it searching still…"

She stopped playing to see Hiei watching her with a contented grin on his face. "So?" she asked. "Do you like it? I mean there's more, but…I want to know what you think so far."

"I'm impressed," he admitted, "that you wrote it all by yourself when you had little to no previous experience before working with me on the show. I think it's admirable that you are improving and working hard to meet your goals. You deserve to be excited."

Botan's happiness and thanks radiated from her, and her smile brightened. "Thank you," she replied. "I can play more for you, if you'd like."

"I would like that," Hiei agreed. "Also, if it's permitted, I would like to use the song for the play."

That surprised Botan. "Wh…What?" She couldn't have heard right, she decided.

He smirked. "You heard me," he told her. "I want you to play this in the show."

"But…why?" Botan questioned, becoming nervous. She thought about playing on stage as a different person with so many other actors and actresses watching her, and the thought was terrifying. "I'm…not sure if that's a good idea."

"Nonsense," Hiei countered. "You just have to play and sing it." He reached into his bag and pulled out his script, turning to a specific page, and pointed to a scene that was a scene between the two of them. "I can rewrite this scene between Preston and Hope where he would listen to her play. My mother was a musician. It will still fit."

Botan's eyes softened, her hand moving to Hiei's. He looked at their joined hands and then to Botan questioningly. She offered him a sad smile and nodded. "Okay," she agreed. "If it means that much to you, we'll do it."

Hiei silently nodded, still looking into her eyes. Something strange was happening, and he knew it the moment he thought about veering slightly from his parents' story and his script. He stared at her for a while, not speaking, and Botan started to grow nervous again. "Um…Hiei?" Her voice snapped him out of his trance, and he realized that he had been leaning in towards Botan and pulled back. "Is everything all right?"

"Maybe," he remarked, earning confusion. "I want to work on the scene now."

"Oh," Botan responded. "Are you leaving?"

"No," Hiei answered. "I want you to write it with me." Botan's eyes widened for a moment, and Hiei smirked at her. He knew that it would shock her, to allow her to write with him. To be honest, it felt natural. He had assisted her with her song one, and they basically worked on everything together now. "What do you say?"

Botan's smile was his answer, but she added a quiet, "Okay."

Rehearsing the new scene went well. Basically, only they really needed to worry about it, them and but a few background singers and the orchestra for the parts where they'd join Botan in playing, but they'd be in the background. They would only be a support to Botan's playing while she sang her heart out. "But it was the rhythm of the dancers that gave the poets life. It was the spirit of the poets that gave the soldiers strength to fight. It was the fire of the young ones; it was the wisdom of the old; it was the story of the poor man that needed to be told."

The music took over for a moment, and everyone in the theater were awed. When they had all heard there would be changes to the script, many were skeptical and actually worried about what it could be, but it actually went well with the story. Preston had gone to meet Hope at her home while her mother was away on a trip, and they had been discussing her true dreams and desires, what she wanted to do. Preston wanted to hear her play, and, though she fought it, Hope gave in and played for him.

As Botan repeated the last line, there was one who disliked the change. Koto was annoyed when someone told her about the change. She had to grab someone else's copy. Apparently Hiei didn't see it necessary to send her a copy, and, even if he had, it would have made no difference. Koto had no idea how to play the piano. This was just another insult, and she felt her hatred for the blue-haired woman growing.

"But, one by one, will we run away with our made up minds to leave it all behind as the light begins to fade in the city on the hill?" Botan sang, and Koto's eyes narrowed. The woman looked so free up there, and Hiei was way too close to her. It was different than when they kissed as per the script. It was like the two had a connection. They could have written the scene and song together, and that just wasn't fair.

The line bridged into Botan singing with the background singers, "One by one, will we run away with our made up minds to leave it all behind as the light begin to fade in the city on the hill…the city on the hill…"

The background dancers started singing the words, "Come home," in between Botan's next few lines.

"And the Father's calling still," Botan sang, her eyes meeting Hiei as her playing slowed and "come home" echoed. "To the city on the hill."

"Come home…"

And the music faded, the rest of the scene continuing. "That was amazing," Preston said, taking the woman's hand. Botan looked down, surprised by the action. They really hadn't written out actions for the scene, agreeing to follow each other's lead. "Why you haven't gone to school for this is because why?"

"I already told you," Hope argued, "but my mother won't allow it."

"If someone heard you play, then I highly doubt your mother would be able to do anything to stop you," Preston responded. "There's always another way."

Hope smiled sadly, but she still didn't agree. "You don't know my mother."

Preston smirked sardonically. "If she's anything like my father, I do."

Hope laughed at that and wiped away a tear. Botan knew Hiei would probably ask her about that later. She just felt awful for his parents in that moment and reacted. For now, he simply smiled at her, lacing their fingers together. They drew closer together before the phone in the house went off. Hope sighed, reluctantly pulling away from Preston as his eyes followed her reflecting his concern. "Hello, mother," she greeted. "I trust the trip is going well."

"It would be going better if I hadn't gotten a call that you cancelled your date with Bryson," the voice rang on the stage so that the audience would be able to hear. Preston couldn't hear though, and just continued to stare as Hope answered her mother.

"I was feeling under the weather," she lied. "I was certain you would understand. I did not wish to get Bryson sick."

"You're a liar," the mother accused. "I swear, if you mess this up, you'll be on the street. I have no use for a selfish daughter." The line disconnected, and Hope sighed while placing the phone on its receiver. She looked back to Preston with sad eyes.

"You should probably go."

Preston's expression softened. "Hope," he called in warning, walking over to her. "I won't leave you alone like this. Whatever she said, you don't deserve it."

"It doesn't matter," Hope softly replied. "You don't need my problems."

"I want to help," Preston argued. "Let me."

"Maybe," Hope surrendered, "but for today, I think I just want rest. I can't cancel on him two days in a row, or she really will throw me on the streets."

Preston was shocked to hear such a thing, his expression souring in distaste. "She would really throw her only child on the streets," he huffed. "That makes for all the more reason to leave."

"And where would I go?" she asked the man. "I don't really belong anywhere. No family, few friends, and I doubt your family would want me around you."

"To hell with my family," he told her. "I'm working on getting my own place. Once everything goes through, you should come with me." Preston walked to her, placed his hands on her shoulders. "I promise you, we will be happy."

"Preston, you hardly know me…" Hope reminded him.

"I know enough," he countered, kissing Hope's cheek and taking her breath away. She gasped and closed her eyes relishing in the loving gesture. "I'll take my leave, but, Hope…think about it."

As Hiei started to walk offstage, hand in his pockets, Botan rounded the piano looking back at him, relaxed. "I will, Preston."

He turned back to flash her a smirk.

Hiei couldn't remember a time where he had felt so complacent…or laughed, but here he was doing just that sitting in Botan's room. She had put on a stupid movie, one Hiei would never find humorous, and he laughed along with her, mainly laughing at her ridiculousness. Botan's mirth was infectious, and he felt something twitch inside of him when her eyes landed on him. The way she looked at him…he didn't ever think anyone ever looked at him like that. His brow furrowed, her eyes never leaving him and expression never changing. "What?"

"I like your laugh," she revealed so simply, yet it flustered Hiei, his cheeks turning red. "We should do this more often." She then paled. "That isn't to say that I meant to take away from rehearsal time. I just lost track is all, but I'm glad you opted to watch the movie with me."

"We have time," Hiei responded curtly with a shrug, trying to avoid her eyes. She was doing strange things to him. "We can always start now." Botan became shy and timid, and Hiei wondered what changed her countenance. "Something wrong?"

"No," she said a little too hurriedly. "No, nothing is wrong…it's just…there's this one scene I'm not…I'm a little scared, Hiei."

He could tell she was reluctant to admit it, and the pink dusting her cheeks was very telling. "Talk to me. What scene, and what has you so scared?"

"Uh…" she hesitated, reaching for her script that was open on her end table. "Well, um…right here."

Hiei could understand when she handed him the script. To be honest, he wasn't certain when he first wrote the script how he'd feel once he reached this part of the play, where Preston had fallen in love with Hope. At first, he had thought he would have difficulty because of his hatred towards the bastard that left them, but things had changed. If he ignored the story he was telling, focused on the moment, the issue now lied in something else entirely.

He really could understand why this scene made her nervous, because it made him nervous for the same reason.

"It's all right," he assured her. "We can work up to it. We don't have to practice it at rehearsals any time soon."

"We have to keep moving forward," Botan argued. "I mean, you and I…we've…but this is just so much more…intimate."

"I know," Hiei stated firmly. "We will be fine."

"Are you sure?" Botan whispered. "I mean, it won't make things awkward?"

Hiei scoffed a laugh. "Woman, you worry too much," he admonished. "Just trust me."

Botan nodded at him, and they sat close together looking at the script. The scene was to occur sometime after a fight between Preston and his father and Hope and her mother. The two would go off to meet in a park in the dead of night, mainly to defy their parents but also to be with each other. Hope would express her fear for the future, between them and everything else. Preston would reassure her, convince her that they were all each other needed, serenading her in the quiet of night. The two would then share a passionate, breathtaking kiss, much deeper than the peck they had exchanged in the park. Botan was terrified. She had never kissed like that, and she didn't know what to do.

But Hiei asked her to trust him, so she would. So the scene would play out with them discussing finding their place in the world together, and Hope would try to walk away, but Preston would grab her arm and stop her and begin his song. Softly, Hiei began to sing the words just so Botan could hear. "Stay with me, baby stay with me, tonight don't leave me alone." He'd pull her towards him as the two strolled through the park. "Walk with me, come and walk with me, to the edge of all we've ever known."

Hiei looked to Botan, expression firm. "I can see you there with the city lights, fourteenth floor, pale blue eyes," he told her indicating the times he's seen her cry wanting to escape her life. "I can breathe you in." They'd go to the apartment Preston had acquired, the stage scenery changing to the inside. "Two shadows standing by the bedroom door, no, I could not want you more than I did right then, as our heads leaned in.

"Well, I'm not sure what this is gonna be, but with my eyes closed all I see is the skyline, through the window, the moon above you and the streets below. Hold my breath as you're moving in," he sang as Botan moved in. Hiei placed his hands on her shoulders. "Taste your lips and feel you skin. When the time comes, baby don't run, just kiss me slowly."

Botan pulled away as per the action in the script, but Hiei didn't release her. She looked to him questioningly and saw something in his eyes that she didn't understand. He was watching her so intensely, and she wondered if she had done something wrong. She was following the script…that Hope wanted to run away from her feelings. Botan felt awful for the not so fictional woman understanding that she had been so ostracized from the world that trusting her feelings was scary. The blue-haired woman could relate, and it scared her. Would she try to run away too, when the time came? That was one of her fears, and it was coming to the surface.

Hiei continued to sing, but he noticed a shift in Botan's mood reflected in her eyes. "Stay with me," he pleaded. "Baby stay with me. Tonight don't leave me alone." Hiei looked away, the next lines indicating Preston's train of thought, his soliloquy of the feelings Hope made him feel through the stories she told him of her and her father. "She shows me everything she used to know, picture frames and country roads, when the days were long and the world was small.

"She stood by as it fell apart, separate rooms and broken hearts," the lyrics read, describing Hope's grief over her father, how she became a shell, and then he turned back to her, gripping her hand forcefully, his eyes adamant as he told her, "but I won't be the one to let you go."

Hope wouldn't have the chance to argue as Preston would rest his hands on her hips, holding her close, adjoining their foreheads. "Oh, I'm not sure what this is gonna be, but with my eyes closed all I see is the skyline, through the window, the moon above you and the streets below. Hold my breath as you're moving in, taste your lips and feel your skin. When the time comes, baby don't run, just kiss me slowly."

Hope would ignore the plea, again attempting to flee the apartment, Preston going after her, gently grabbing her arm. "Don't run away," he'd plead again before he explains what he truly feels for her. "And it's hard to love again," he admitted, reluctantly returning to thoughts of his previous relationship before it had gone to hell, "when the only way it's been, when the only love you know just walked away." Botan looked away as Hope would, and Hiei gently grabbed her chin bringing her eyes to meet his. "If it's something that you want, darling you don't have to run…you don't have to go…"

He leaned in and whispered in her ear, "Just stay with me, baby stay with me…"

Botan leaned in again as Hiei sang the refrain once again, then adding the same statement about their current condition as he would press her back again the set window. "Oh, I'm not sure where this is gonna go, but in this moment all I know is the skyline, through the window, the moon above you and the streets below. Hold my breath as you're moving in, taste your lips and feel your skin. When the time comes, baby don't run.

"Just kiss me slowly."

It was the moment of truth, and Botan's and Hiei's hearts hammered through their chests as they leaned in. The press of Hiei's lips on hers was tentative at first, but they soon became engaged in a heated moment. The moment they connected, Hiei felt his blood boil, and he didn't know if he'd be able to stay in control. He could feel Botan's body relax as she melted into the kiss. He couldn't know that the woman felt a pull in her heart, encouraging her to become more engaged. Her arms wrapped around his lower back, and Hiei's hands traveled up to her hair.

A soft moan escaped her, and that was when Hiei pulled away in surprise over her actions. Botan's cheeks turned red, and Hiei found himself wanting to kiss her like that again. Before he could reach for her, Botan hesitated and apologized. "I-I'm sorry," she stammered, and Hiei had to force himself not to react.

"It's fine," he assured her, but Botan didn't believe him. She couldn't protest, though, for Hiei pulled her to him once more and crashed his lips against hers again. Botan's eyes widened. She wasn't certain what was happening, but she was pretty certain that they had already been done with rehearsing the scene. Still, she wouldn't argue. Her actor friend was a pretty skilled kisser, and she felt completely at ease in his arms. It felt like this wonderful moment would never end.

"Eh-hem."

Hiei and Botan both pulled away, catching their breaths as they looked to the doorway and saw Yukina standing there, hand on the knob, grinning widely at the two of them before politely excusing herself. Botan's face flushed in her embarrassment, and Hiei's expression was not much different though his expression remained neutral contrasting her wide, doe-eyed appearance. "Uh…I…I'm sorry, again." Hiei's eyes landed on her, questioning her words. "I…won't let it happen again. I know we need to keep things professional."

Her costar chuckled at that and smirked at the irony. He was the one who told himself he'd never date a costar, and here he was making out with one on the floor of her bedroom during a time where they were supposed to be rehearsing. Truthfully, he could use the excuse of "increasing chemistry," but he wasn't a fool. Hiei knew what this really was.

He felt something for her.

Knowing this, Hiei should have slammed the breaks, but he hadn't. Instead, he went along with his impulses. Their kisses felt amazing, and he knew he wanted more. Of course, that wasn't the best idea, not now, and he wouldn't act on that. Really, there were no impulses he should have been listening to, but it happened, and he had no intention of taking it back. "Maybe we need to do something less professional." His words clearly shocked Botan, as well they should, but he would not let her mind linger too long. Neither of them would overthink this. He wouldn't allow it. His arms wrapped around the woman, guiding her back to him, and he kissed her once more.

Botan felt her heart soar.