Disclaimer: I don't own YYH or the characters

So, this year's Hiei X Botan week was a little late, but it's finally that time of year! That means this week, May 18 – 24, I'll be participating in the prompts.

So, here's prompt one!

Day 1: A scary moment/Trust

Botan was alone—downtrodden and panicked after she took Genkai's spirit to Spirit World. The ferry girl still couldn't believe she had been tasked with guiding one of her loved ones away. Even though it was her job and she was used to ferrying souls of the dead, Botan never expected it to be for someone she cared about. Of course, her position was extremely rare. After all, she was the first assistant to the spirit detective, and the only ferry girl to spend so much time in the living world.

When she sensed Genkai's life fade, Botan was a wreck. She met with Koenma to report, but she couldn't stand any of it. Yusuke's grief was so immense as was her own. It didn't matter, all the training Botan went through, all the knowledge that Genkai was safe and that she was the one who made sure of it, none of it. The one who usually had to reassure lost souls now felt lost. This wasn't right. This wasn't supposed to happen. Only…Botan knew that was a lie. It was Genkai's time; she was meant to lose her life to Toguro.

It brought no comfort to the ferry girl. Only despair.

She took a breather from speaking with Koenma and found herself flying around the island. Flying always helped her clear her head, but it seemed even that couldn't bring her out of the hazy numbness of grief. The ferry girl spotted a large crater, her brows furrowed in curiosity and concern. That certainly hadn't been there before…

Botan cautiously approached and, as she got closer, she made the realization that it was in the spot where Genkai had perished. Yusuke attacked Toguro, Botan assumed. She didn't blame him. If she had the strength, Botan would do the exact same thing. Tears filled her eyes. Her friends were in more danger than even she could fathom.

A rustling in the trees alerted Botan; panic filled her, her anguish momentarily forgotten, and she hid her presence behind a bushy section of a tree. It wasn't safe for someone of Spirit World to be alone on this island full of demons without one of the contestants. She knew, yet she couldn't bring herself to leave. Relief filled her when Hiei appeared by the crater. Her shoulders relaxed. No, she and Hiei weren't really all that close, but Botan considered the fire demon a friend. She knew, with him around, she was safe.

Botan was about to go and talk to the demon, but then his energy crackled around him. It seemed, as he jumped up and then punched the ground next to Toguro's crater, he was trying to compare his strength. Botan was mesmerized. She hadn't ever seen Hiei train before, not until this very moment.

Hiei's attack ended, and he stood between the two craters. The one he created was barely even a third of what Toguro's was. Crimson eyes widened, and he murmured a quiet, "Unbelievable."

Botan's heart dropped. Hiei appeared to be equally shaken and troubled. For Hiei, the wielder of the Jagan and one daring enough to attempt the darkness technique, to be concerned by Toguro's power then maybe it really was hopeless. Their team really was in a hole they couldn't crawl out of. The woman paled. She didn't want to go through this all again. She didn't want to bring all her friends to Spirit World.

At that though, she started to weep, and her oar took her lower to the ground the more upset she got.

Hiei heard the sounds of crying and turned to see the ferry girl. His eyes widened; he was surprised he hadn't noticed her presence. Seeing her tears fall as she sobbed froze Hiei in place. Though Hiei was far from soft, he always hated it when women cried. It reminded him too much of his sister's plight with Tarukane. Those memories caused his soul to burn with anger and hatred.

Again, his energy crackled around him. It broke him free from his stupor. Hiei approached the woman, his steps silent and almost catlike. Botan didn't react to him, but he hardly expected her to. Blood-red eyes roved her form, checking her for any injuries that could have her wailing like she was. She was lucky it was him who found her and not some other demon. If they weren't in an alliance, well, Hiei wished he could say he'd abandon her and leave her to the wolves.

"What's a girl like you doing out in the middle of the night?" Hiei interrogated.

His smooth voice startled Botan. Amethyst met crimson. "H-Hiei?" she called out experimentally. Then, his words registered, and her eyes narrowed in question. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing," Hiei assured her. "Any woman shouldn't be alone right now, let alone a human or ferry girl. We're on an island full of enemies, and most of them…well, you already experienced some of the more lecherous buffoons."

Botan wasn't even going to ask how Hiei knew that. He must have seen it when he used the Jagan to peer into her head and make sure she didn't accidentally blab his secret. She looked down to the ground and shook her head. "You're right," she admitted in a whisper. "I'm…I wasn't thinking. I'm sorry."

One of Hiei's brows quirked, and he asked, "What the hell are you apologizing to me for? I don't care what happens to you."

That hurt. Botan knew Hiei could be cruel, and brutally honest. They shared a few moments together, back when she visited his cell and even when they both ended up at the safe house in the human city on rainy nights. During that time, Botan had seen new sides, deeper sides to Hiei, and her meant a lot to her. She hadn't expected him to still feel hatred towards her for being of Spirit World.

Botan stood and then picked up her oar. She was prepared to leave without another word, shoulders tight and form hunched over. Hiei took note of her form and could practically taste the dejection she felt over his callous words. They were a lie, of course, but Hiei would never let her or anyone else know that. She was the enemy.

Only she wasn't. His eyes moved back to the crater, and then something hit him. Toguro, her sadness, the tears…

"Why were you crying?"

Botan flinched before she cautiously turned her head back towards the fire demon. "It's…it's nothing." She was lying. "Trust me; you wouldn't care anyway."

Hiei felt like he was sucker-punched, but he deserved it after the comment he made. With a nonchalant shrug, he said, "Try me."

Hesitation flickered over the ferry girl's face. She didn't know if she could tell Hiei after the heartless remarks he made already. Most likely, he'd mock her or call her weak-hearted. He'd probably say someone like her shouldn't even be on the island if she couldn't stomach death, especially when she dealt with death on a regular basis. He'd probably think she was pathetic. Maybe she was.

"Botan."

Her eyes snapped open. She realized some time during her mental battle she clenched them shut. Botan didn't think Hiei had ever really called her by her name before, and if he did it was so sporadic that it never hit her. She looked to Hiei. The fire demon's arms were crossed as if waiting, though his gaze was on the ground off to his side. For a moment, Botan thought she saw a flash of guilt pass over his eyes. It was gone just as quickly as it came. Maybe it was the light playing tricks on her.

Still, hearing the steadiness of his voice made Botan feel safe. Perhaps he meant what he said before. Perhaps he didn't. Either way, Botan finally conveyed, "I had to take Genkai to Spirit World." Hiei's gaze returned to hers, the look in his eyes unreadable. "I know you didn't really know her, but I…I cared about her. I care about all of you, and after seeing this…" She gestured to the hole. "…I'm terrified, especially when you looked so shocked. I can't do this, Hiei. I can't lose all of you to him…"

Hiei's expression remained neutral. Botan could not tell what he was thinking at all. She wondered if Hiei shared similar concerns, if he was afraid of Toguro too, but Botan quickly knocked that thought out of her head. Hiei wasn't afraid of anything, even if the situation looked bleak.

For a while, only silence rested between them; not even the sound of crickets could be heard. Hiei was the first, surprisingly, to break the silence. "We won't lose to them," he assured her. "Trust me."

Botan wiped her tears and regarded Hiei with an uncertain gaze, but she could see in his eyes that he meant what he said. That resolve held in his crimson orbs was all the reassurance she needed. With a weak smile, she breathed out, "I will. Please, just be careful."

Hiei scoffed, "Foolish ferry girl," before he disappeared.