Guardian Angel : Dazed and Confused

A/N: Sorry that's taken a while to update. Band parties now! . To clear up any confusion, it was Botan who kissed Hiei. On the cheek. I can't help myself when it comes to those two. I love this pairing soooo much! Okay, read and review please!

I

Botan was shaking as her lips brushed up against the Koorime's cheek. A part of her was terrified. But the main reason why she was trembling was because of the emotions that were crashing inside her like the raging waves of an ocean. She was joyous that she kissing Hiei, but another voice said that she should be ashamed of what she was doing. Then there was the fact that she was Death. No one loved Death. Everybody hated Death.

Botan pulled back, unsure of what to expect. Well, she wasn't entirely unsure. What she thought was going to happen was that she was going to get a katana pressed up to her throat or a gruesome death threat. She was sure of it. It was only a matter of seconds now.

II

Hiei was confused for only a few seconds before rage overtook his system. His muscles tensed and his hands shook. I don't deserve this! What overtook the onna into doing that? His self hatred flared up when he saw her eyes. Those pure pink eyes. She was so innocent for the deity of death. She was an angel.

He deserved to die in a few hours. He deserved to be alone. But he wasn't getting what he wanted. He was offered care and affection. Maybe something more than friendship. Kami, don't do this to me!

That was when she started to move away, her hands quivering. Her blue hair fell in front of her eyes as she started to unfold her legs. Words were on the tip of her tongue. He saw her pain. It was very evident. Nice, Hiei. You're putting the one person who could possibly love you in agony... LOVE? Once he thought it, it wouldn't leave. The word hung in his mind like a pesky gnat.

His hand shot out on its own accord. It was most likely the Koorime's subconscious that told him to grab the ferry onna's wrist.

III

Botan had to fight down the urge to flinch. She knew that everything she did now would be analyzed down to the grit. Her skin was still slightly tender, the bruises not entirely gone. She did not wince. Her eyes were searched by the most intimidating bloody orbs one could imagine. Botan felt her breath leave as she felt her soul being judged. Her entire mind being read. Normally she would be mad, but there was nothing she could do about it.

The ferry girl closed her eyes, leaning back slightly. There is no turning back now...

IV

Hiei lessened his hold on the onna's wrist, but at the same time his Jagan Eye opened, her mind as clear to him as water. There were very little current thoughts at the moment, causing the Koorime to smirk inwardly.

His expression quickly vanished as he was flooded with the onna's emotions. Each and every one of them was new for him. At least he thought so, until he recognized a feeling. The Koorime focused on it. He felt sick, cold, and lost. It was... despair. What? Why would the onna have this emotion? He moved on and felt butterflies in his stomach, a warm liquid shoot through his body, and the very annoying urge to grin and laugh.

No matter how hard he searched, the Koorime couldn't find a hint of deception about what she did. There wasn't any secret agenda for her. No lies, and no sick humor. In fact, when Hiei looked up as to why she kissed his cheek, all he found was tense confusion and a very warm tickling sensation that ran up and down his spine. The fire demon almost shivered.

"Why did you do that?"

The ferry onna's eyes were closed, and she seemed hesitant to open them. Hn. She's afraid. Her pink eyes finally opened slowly, her eyelashes fluttering. Her blue hair shifted on her back as she moved forward so she was sitting up straight.

"I... I, uh, I thought that it... um... would kind of be a way to say thank you..."

With each pause the onna's cheeks became more and more pink. Her eyes were pleading with him. For what? Hiei didn't know.

V

Botan was nervous. It felt like her stomach was going to burn a gaping hole in her body. His hand was still holding her wrist, and it was making her go crazy. Just give me a death threat, please! At least I'll have a memory of a normal situation before I die.

The Koorime didn't say a word. His face was impassive as usual. Damn it! Why does he make it so hard to figure out what he's thinking? That made Botan smile. That's the Hiei I know. Knowing everyone's thoughts, but not a soul knowing his.

"Sorry... you can leave if you want."

Botan bowed her head in apology, and so that she wouldn't have to see his face. There was a silence, but there was not a weight change on her bed. The Koorime was still there. That was when she was touched. It startled her. The only thing that Botan was really used to was high fives and hugs. Other than that, Botan had never experienced it. So, when she felt a long finger on the bottom of her chin, making her head lift up, her heartbeat starting thumping out of control.

"It was a way of saying thanks. You have nothing to apologize for."

Now, many amusing thoughts ran through Botan's brain. She thought of how Kurama would have said the statement. She could picture the kitsune being sincere and compassionate. Maybe even seductive. But, Hiei was not like Kurama. At all. The statement was cold, well, not cold but it wasn't emotional. It was pure Hiei Jaganeshi. And the ferry girl respected that.

"O-okay." Hiei removed his finger from the bottom of his chin and the two of them just sat there. It was not an awkward silence. It was just... there. "I know I already said this, but I am really thankful. Thanks for protecting me."

VI

Hiei was silent. A curt nod was his answer to the onna's statement. She protected herself. I was too weak to even fight a henchmen...

The onna said something about changing out of her current clothing and left. That brought back the unwanted images of her... without clothes. Well, they weren't unwanted... but...HIEI YOU ARE A DISGRACE TO THE VERY AIR YOU BREATHE! Hiei fumed as he crossed his arms. Never harm a defenseless woman. A part of his code. It was a rule that was never broken, not that any ever were allowed to be. Now, he may not have been doing Botan any harm by... thinking about her, but she had no idea that he was there during the incident. That made it wrong.

He couldn't have her. He couldn't have anybody. He would just end up hurting them. And... they would hurt him. Hiei snarled at the thought, but he knew that it was true. Physical pain was nothing compared to emotional despair.

His thoughts were interrupted by the onna emerging. She was in jeans and a tank top. Her hair was tied back, and she was wearing white sneakers. She looked like she was going over to a friends house, not a battle that most likely be the end of all days. That's the ferry onna I know. Oblivious to the obvious. That was when he saw her wring her hands, her eyes fearful and worried. Okay, not oblivious. Than what is she?

"I called Yusuke. He's going to meet everyone at a park just outside this apartment. Want to head out?"

Hiei didn't say anything, but he did get off of Botan's bed. He knocked the remaining glass shards out of the window pane and looked at Botan expectantly. Her eyes widened and she started to shake her head and begin to back up. Hiei smirked. So easy to make her frightened. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her out of the window, falling backwards into the night air.

VII

Botan didn't have time to breathe before she was pulled to Hiei. Her arms instinctively wrapped around him, not wanting to fall free of her only chance at life.

"Hiei! Just for the record, never do this AGAIN!"

VIII

Yusuke had his moment with Keiko. He told her everything. From how the world was in his hands to how much he loved her. It was good to get it all off of his chest. Botan had called him on the spirit compact. After she was gone, he called the rest of the team.

Now he sat on a bench, looking out into the brightening sky. The sun would be up soon. He head some rustling vegetation and Kuwabara stumbled out, a chuckling Kurama behind him. That was when he heard a commotion coming from behind him. A voice was yelling and he could just barely hear a dark murmur accompanying it.

"We could have taken the door! It wouldn't have taken that long!"

"Shut up, onna!"

The three men stared as Hiei stalked out, his arms crossed while Botan walked briskly out, her cheeks flushed.

IX

Botan was still recovering from the fall. Her heart was still weakly crying for help. That was when she realized that her and Hiei were the center of attention. Kuwabara's mouth was hanging open, making him look like a primate. Kurama's green eyes were wide open, a very uncommon expression for the suave fox. Yusuke, on the other hand, found his words quite quickly.

"Hiei, you spent your last night with Botan?"

Botan felt her face turn tomato red. What Yusuke just said implied so many things. Hiei snarled but said nothing.

The Rekai Tentei's questions were unanswered as the wind began to blow wildly. Botan squeaked and the team moved so that they were closer together. They were not sure what was coming, but they could guess.

A figure appeared. The robed one. It's hood covered its face, and it didn't speak. It watched them bristle at its presence. It beckoned them with its hand. Botan got a good look at it.

The hand was green. Sure, she had seen many green skinned demons, but something told her that this was no demon. The green was splotched with grey, and there was some holes. Oh my God... the hand is dead. It's grey with decay!

As soon as that thought entered her mind, the wind swirled around them, and they were gone. Not a soul would be able find them in Rekai, Ningenkai, or Makai. They were not in the three worlds. Botan opened her eyes once the wind vanished. Her throat went dry and her flesh turned cold.

The City of Devils... we're here...

X

A/N: Woof! That took a long time to write! Now, I want reviews! You know you want to write them! Please, I mean, I've worked on this for you! I'll give you asparagus! -mia