Author: Well here is the next chapter. This one is flowing much more quickly than the others have in the past. Enjoy!

---Time and/or Location change---

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Chapter 14

"His name is Tsukato, and he wants the thing that belongs to him to be returned to him," a voice said from inside the temple.

"I don't belong to him!" Botan said quickly.

"Oh, but Botan, you do belong to me. Or at least you did, and now I want you back!" a man's voice said from behind her.

Botan whirled around and came face to face with Tsukato. He hadn't changed any since the last time she saw him. He had dark skin and pure white fangs. Four glittering black eyes stared at her from beneath a mass of dark green hair. Botan immediately took a step back, but ran into something hard. She gasped and was about to swing her arm around behind her when she heard Hiei's voice, and felt his arms wrap around her waist.

"She does not belong to you. Leave and I will let you keep your life!" Hiei spat.

"If she does not belong to me she does not belong to you Half-Breed!" Tsukato said.

"Tsukato, what do you want from Botan?" Kurama asked.

"Human how do you know my name?" Tsukato asked. "And why are you not terrified like your pretty girlfriend?"

"Kali don't be afraid, I will protect you I promise. Trust me," Kurama said and then turned back to Tsukato. "Perhaps you would better remember me by another name. Youko Kurama! Tell me old friend does that name ring any bells. I would hope that it would. Now tell me what you want with Botan."

"Oh, so you didn't tell them did you Sweetheart?" Tsukato clicked his tongue. "Perhaps now would be a good time."

"Kurama… about a hundred years ago I first became a ferry girl when I died but would not accept it. Koenma gave me the option of becoming a ferry girl and explained it all to me. It was not yet time for me to die, but my body had been mutilated, and I could not return to it. I agreed to become a ferry girl, and all ferry girls get a week of vacation in Ningenkai. I had been a ferry girl for two months and was taking my second week of vacation when this… thing kidnapped me and raped me. He returned me to where he found me a week later and the next month he took me again. This happened for about five months, the last two times there was a whole gang, and they took turns. I told Koenma I didn't want any more vacation. I told him my job gave me all the sanctuary I would need. He didn't ask and I never told him. I thought I had left it all behind me so I never found the need to tell you. Then about a month ago I started having nightmares. I would walk around the city and all of you had forgotten me. Then I would find Hiei and he would have forgotten me too. Then Tsukato would appear and tell me that he had made you forget and he would take me and rape me again. I'm so sorry I never told you. I wanted to forget, but I knew I wouldn't be able to if everyone knew," Botan said her eyes never leaving Tsukato.

"Oh, Botan… I wish I had known what Tsukato was doing all those years ago. He still worked for me at that time, and I never questioned why he left for a week at a time every month. I would have killed him for raping a woman, especially one who worked for Koenma. I am so sorry Botan," Kurama said.

"What is going on?" Kali asked.

"I will explain everything later Darling. Please trust me," Kurama said to her.

Kali nodded and stood back further when Tsukato looked at her. But when his eyes strayed back to Botan, Hiei growled and pulled her behind him. Botan clung to the back of his cloak, and kept her eyes on the man.

"You have no claim on the girl. Now give her to me. She is mine!" Tsukato yelled.

"Hiei, please, don't make me go with him," Botan whispered.

"Botan, I love you. Will you let me mark you? Will you belong to me and only me for the rest of eternity?" Hiei asked suddenly.

"Yes, Hiei, I love you so much. Please I don't ever want to be with anyone but you. Please don't let him take me," she whispered.

"I won't," he said to her, and then he turned to Tsukato. "Now you are the one with no claim on her. She is my intended mate. Leave now and I may let you keep your life, however stay and I will be forced to kill you."

"That demonic collar will not allow you to be far enough away to keep her out of harms way. So how do you plan on killing me?" Tsukato asked.

"Botan, climb on my back. Wrap your arms around my neck and your legs around my waist. Don't let go no matter what, and bury your head in my shoulder. No matter what happens do not look do not move and do not let go! Can you do that?" Hiei asked.

"I can try," she whispered.

"Then do it," he replied.

Botan quickly did as Hiei had asked. She locked her ankles around his waist and made sure that while her arms were tight enough that she would not slip they were loose enough that Hiei would be able to breathe unhindered. Once Hiei was certain she was secured, he drew his katana

"Hiei, that's not a good idea! She could get hurt!" Kurama cried out.

"Do you have any better ideas?" Hiei asked.

"Yes, mark her now. The demonic collar will register a bond stronger than the one it has and it will dissolve. If you truly love her it won't matter if you mate now or later, but if you mark her now then I can keep her safe while you deal with Tsukato," Kurama said.

Hiei pulled Botan around to face him, "What do you think Botan? I wanted to mark you now, but I thought you would rather do that without an audience. But Kurama is right about the collar dissolving if it senses a deeper bond."

Botan kissed Hiei pouring all of her emotions into that kiss hoping it would convey all the emotions she felt for the fire demon. When she finally pulled back she looked into ruby red eyes.

"Hiei, I love you, and I don't want to lose you, but I know I will never be able to survive if Tsukato gets me again without having been yours for at least a small time. Please Koibito, mark me now," Botan said trying to hold back tears.

'Kurama keep him distracted,' Hiei said through telepathy.

Kurama jumped up and began fighting Tsukato not enough that he would defeat the man just enough to keep him on guard and away from Botan and Hiei. Hiei pulled Botan more firmly into his arms and kissed her again. He growled when her arms wrapped more firmly around his neck pulling his head closer to her and opening her mouth to allow his tongue to explore the cavern of her mouth. After Hiei had kissed her senseless he pulled away slightly and began placing feather light kisses all over her face whispering how much he loved her. The path of kisses made their way down the left side of her neck and when he reached the juncture between neck and shoulder he paused.

"Botan, are you sure? If I do this there will be no going back," Hiei said hoarsely.

"Hiei, I love you and I would never want it to be any other way. Please I love you," Botan whispered threading her fingers through his thick black hair.

Hiei needed no other incentive. He kissed her neck again and then sunk his fangs deep into her skin. Botan gasped in pain at first, but when he began feeding his ki into the wound she moaned in pleasure. When Hiei was finished marking her, he pulled back and couldn't hold back a chuckle when he saw his mate.

"What is wrong Hiei?" Botan asked confused.

"Nothing," he said pulling a lock of her hair so that she could see it. She gasped when she noticed it was light blue again.

"Hiei…" Botan questioned him with her eyes.

"Your eyes are pink again Koi. And you have fangs. You are a demoness now. My ki flooded your body and made you into a demon. You will share my life span now. Come now Koi, mark your mate," Hiei said chuckling again.

Botan began lightly kissing Hiei's neck. She followed the same path Hiei had just taken on her, and when she reached the juncture between Hiei's neck and shoulder her instincts took over and she bit down on her mate's neck drawing his blood into her mouth. She then fed her ki into the mark on her mate's neck and when she pulled back she had to stifle a giggle.

"What is it Onna?" Hiei asked sternly.

"Your hair, Koi… the starburst is… BLUE! Light blue like mine," she said giggling.

"I am just glad it is not pink like your eyes. Now I will be back for you Koibito. I will kill that man for ever laying a finger on you. I love you Botan. I promise I will come back for you," Hiei said releasing his mate.

"Kiss me first Koibito. Please don't leave without kissing me first," Botan pleaded eyes swimming with unshed tears.

Hiei grabbed Botan around the waist and pulled her firmly into his arms. His lips crashed against her and his tongue plundered her mouth. Botan's arms clung to her mate and she never wanted this moment to end.

Hiei pulled away after a few moments, and smiled sadly when he saw the tears running down his mate's face. With a thumb he gently brushed away a tear and lightly kissed her cheek.

"Botan, regardless of either one of our pasts, regardless of what is happening right now, and no matter what we face in our joined future. I love you. Nothing will ever change that. I will always love you. Don't ever forget that. I will come back to you. Now take the human girl and Yukina and run. Run as far as you can and don't look back. GO NOW!" Hiei said forcefully pushing her lightly in the direction of Yukina and Kali.

And regardless of how badly she wanted to turn around and look at her mate, Botan grabbed the other two females and they did what Hiei had said. They ran.

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Author: And now it really is almost over. I hope you all have enjoyed it, there is just one chapter left, and then it will be over. I am sorry that I left it like this, but the next chapter cannot be broken up, and there was nothing else to add. Also I know this wasn't exactly what one would call romantic, but they had to do what they had to do. But Hiei does love her very much which is why he didn't suggest this at first. Good thing Kurama has a brain or Hiei would have fought Tsukato with Botan on his back, and she could have gotten hurt. Okay, so please review. Ja ne!