Hey guys! I'm glad you're enjoying the fic so far and picking up on the little parallels to Home. This chapter continues on in the same vein as last time, so it back, relax and enjoy some more HB Bonding.
The unlikely duo entered an adjustment period in the next week and a half, settling into a new groove as they became accustomed to living together.
Botan learned that Hiei was much less guarded in the morning. His gaze a little more open, words a little less filtered and countenance a little more agreeable. It was almost as if his brain simply forgot that he enjoyed being difficult. He usually regained his full facilities after a shower and some caffeine, red eyes sharpening back into their piercing glare and disposition sliding back into its usual state of stoicism.
He often overlooked his meals. The detective was always so focused on closing a case or chasing a lead that everything else - including his own needs - came second. As such, Botan took it upon herself to remedy that. She rerouted their morning commute to include a breakfast pit stop until Hiei eventually accepted it as commonplace. In an attempt to ensure he actually ate lunch, she also prepared quick and easy meals and forced them onto him before they separated towards their own divisions. She was delighted to find Hiei waiting for her at the end of each day with the empty bento in hand and less tension in his countenance.
From there, they fell into an easy routine of traveling back to the complex, settling on a plan for dinner and then eating in between light conversation. Botan always made it a point to give him some space and distance after that, but he continually took up residence in the spot beside her on the couch. His gaze was usually glued to his phone at first, but then his attention slowly and begrudgingly moved towards whichever series or show she was watching at the time.
Tonight, they sat in the darkened living room with nothing but the light of the television screen shining on them and the pitter-patter of rain beating against the windows. There was nothing particularly thrilling on, so they sat in silence and busied themselves on their phones instead. After a long workweek of ups and downs, Botan had turned to her tried and true method of retail therapy for a little pick-me-up. The bluette scrolled through her favorite clothing website, pausing to get Hiei's opinion every now and then. He must have been in a decent mood, because he didn't discourage her yet.
"Yes or no?" she asked, leaning in to show him a bright pink poncho.
"No."
"What?" Botan balked. "But this is the height of style!"
Hiei's sharp features twisted in distaste. "If you want to look like a clown, then by all means…"
"I suppose it is a little loud," she agreed, swiping it way. "Even for me."
"Hn."
"Ooh, what about this one?"
Crimson eyes passed over the olive sweater, before meeting her gaze. "I didn't realize you wore men's clothing."
"I meant for you, silly!" she said. "I think you'd look great in something like this."
His mouth flattened into a line of disapproval.
"Don't give me that look, mister. Your wardrobe really could use some more variety. It's so dark and dreary as is."
"I don't care for fashion, much less colors."
"I can see that," she said, tapping away on her phone. "But I'm still adding it to my cart, just in case you change your mind."
"You're only wasting your time," he muttered.
"It wouldn't kill you to treat yourself, Hiei."
"Says the woman who has more things than she can keep track of."
Botan pouted. "I'll have you know, I regularly donate the things I no longer use."
"What a saint," he mocked.
Botan pushed him, but he hardly budged. "There's no need to be so mean to me all the time, you know."
He glanced at her, lips quirking upwards the slightest bit. "I'm nice enough."
She bit back a smile as she scrolled through the webpage of men's accessories. Hiei was a tough customer and a finicky shopper. If it didn't serve a direct need or purpose, he wasn't very open to it at all. She showed him some potential options and he narrowed his eyes at each and every one.
"You're wasting your time," he said. "I already told you, I don't care for any of these things."
"You say that, but this little kitty's already seen that gorgeous piece of jewelry you keep hidden away in your nightstand."
Hiei turned to face her fully, his expression unreadable. "You went through my things?"
Botan stiffened upon realizing what she just revealed. Shaking her head, she raised both hands in defense. "It wasn't like that…"
Crimsons eyes were hard as they rested on her, willing her to fold under the weight of their gaze. It didn't take long until she deflated.
"Okay, it was exactly like that…" she confessed. "It was when we weren't talking much and I didn't have anything to do."
"So you snooped."
"I prefer to call it reconnaissance," she corrected, pressing the pads of her index fingers together sheepishly. "You were so closed off and distant. I just wanted to find something that might make you seem more… I don't know… human."
Hiei went silent at that and she instantly regretted saying anything at all.
"I don't feel that way anymore," she amended hurriedly. "In fact, I feel like we're so much closer than we've ever been. What I'm trying to say is… I… you…"
"It's fine, woman," he cut off. "I understand."
She smiled. This agreeable side of him was new, but not at all unwelcome. She wondered why he hid it from the world so often.
"As for the prying," he continued. "I already expected you to be invasive and meddling when I suggested you move in."
Botan's mouth fell open on a gasp. "I can't believe you."
"You've always been far too curious and meddling for your own good."
"Can you blame a girl? You're were so closed off and unapproachable."
"And you thought being invasive would help?"
"Well, no, not really." She pouted. "Still, it was awfully surprising to find something like that in your possession. Is there a story behind it?"
"…" Hiei's expression changed, just slightly. It gave her pause and she suddenly felt guilty for prying.
"Never mind," she dismissed with a shake of her head. "You don't have to say."
"…It's the only keepsake I have from my mother," he revealed. "Yukina carries its counterpart."
Botan allowed the information to sink in; the significance of the revelation not at all lost on her. She didn't realize he retained anything from his mother, but it was a comforting thought. Even if she wasn't here physically, her memory lived on.
"It must be nice to have something to remember her by," she said softly.
"It's just a useless memento."
"If it was useless, you wouldn't have kept it after all this time."
Hiei's expression didn't change from its emotionless state, but he didn't seem to be closing himself off from the conversation, either. His posture was still relaxed as he sat beside her. And he didn't say anything truly discouraging yet, so she continued on.
"You should get a chain for it," she suggested. "That way you can wear it during special occasions and the like."
"I'm not one for jewelry."
"I know, but it's nice to have the option of wearing it if you wanted to," she encouraged. When Hiei didn't answer, her smile turned teasing. "You'd probably look really cute with on."
His features crumpled into a frown. "I already told you, that word isn't a compliment."
Botan laughed.
"Twisted woman," he muttered, turning back to his phone.
Her gaze lingered on him for a little while longer, the lines of her expression softening. She didn't think she would ever get used to Hiei revealing parts of himself so willingly. Every time he let her in, every time he shed a piece of his guard, she felt as though she was a bit closer to solving his puzzle. And the closer she got, the more she admired him.
She liked how strong and resolute he was; how assured and confident. She began to understand his silences and wade her way through his teasing remarks. In a matter of days, she'd come to rely on his grounding presence and unchanging dependability. She felt safe around him. She felt secure.
And more than anything else, she was beginning to realize that if anyone could bring her through this nightmare, it would be him.
.
.
.
Botan rolled over and nestled into her surprisingly warm pillow with a happy sigh. Weekends were the absolute best. She could sleep in and then do whatever she wanted with her free time. There was no Koenma to drill her about deadlines, no Yusuke to keep track of and no pesky reports to weigh her down.
As of right now, she had no thoughts of leaving her bed. It was so comfortable; perfectly firm in all the right places. She cuddled closer to the heat, a lazy smile stretched over her lips. She would have drifted right into her weightless dreams, had it not been for the sudden movement that pulled her back to full consciousness.
Her eyes fluttered open and she caught sight of a figure that was most definitely not a pillow.
Hiei's dark hair was a little mussed up, face still soft in the light of the early morning rays as he peeled a crimson eye open. Botan let out a squeak and quickly detangled herself from the detective.
"I'm sorry," she apologized quickly. "I didn't mean to-"
"Don't bother," he cut in. "This wasn't the first time and I know from experience that it won't be the last."
Her face flushed in embarrassment. "Do I do this often?"
"More than you know, woman."
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"I didn't see the point," he replied. "You hardly know the meaning of boundaries when you're awake. It stands to reason that you'd be the same while you slept, too."
"Oh poo," she sighed. She really had gotten far too comfortable with him. And rather than push her away or discourage her, Hiei simply let it be. It was the complete opposite of how she thought he would react.
"Just go back to bed," he grumbled, closing his eyes. "It's too early for this."
Botan's gaze swept over his face. He always gave off the impression that he hated touching and all forms of human contact, but he didn't do much to deter her when they were alone. In fact, he allowed her to get away with far more than she would have ever expected. There were so many sides to him; so many different shades of the man she thought she knew. Shaking her head, she readjusted the covers and settled in again.
And if she moved a little closer to him before drifting off again, that was something they both kept to themselves.
.
.
.
It was just past noon when Botan finally trudged into the living room with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders and a miserable expression on her face. She was still in her pajamas, hair in a low ponytail as she plopped down on the couch. Although they were supposed to go to the gym soon and she wanted to pick up a few things around town, her body had other plans.
"Are you sick?" Hiei asked, walking over to her from his position near the kitchen counter.
"No, but I don't feel well."
"What do you mean?"
"...You know…"
"I don't, which is why I'm asking."
"…Womanly stuff," she answered pointedly.
The realization passed over him quickly enough as he nodded. "I see."
"So, I'm going to have to take a rain check on the gym today. I'm sorry."
"It's fine," he returned.
"I do have to go to the convenience store, though," she mentioned. "I'll be quick, if you don't mind accompanying me."
"What do you need?"
"Ibuprofen," she answered. "And some snacks. I don't know if it actually helps, but chocolate always makes me feel better."
"Simple enough," he said. She shirked off her blanket and rose to her feet in order to join him, but the detective shook his head. "Stay."
"But-"
"You hardly look as though you're in any shape to go out as is. I'll go in your stead."
She couldn't hide the surprise that spilled over onto her features. The last thing she expected was for Hiei to go out of his way to cater to her, not because he was heartless, but because it simply wasn't his problem. She almost didn't know what to say, but his eyes were still on her and she realized it was rude to keep him waiting. Especially when he was being so amenable.
"Okay," she accepted, lowering herself back onto the couch and cocooning herself within the blanket once more. "Thank you."
"I'll be back soon."
Botan watched him leave with a small smile. She had been so used to taking care of herself that the idea of relying on someone else was almost foreign to her. The small gesture filled her heart with more gratitude than he would never know.
Sinking back into the plush cushions of the couch, she fixed her eyes on the television and browsed through the channels until she found a suitable program. She was just getting into it when the door unlocked and opened to reveal Hiei. He returned with the goods in hand, clothes dotted with raindrops and carrying the scent of petrichor as he ventured further inside. Botan felt a little guilty for having him go out in the rain, but when she saw her favorite kinds of chocolate inside the thin plastic bag, she cheered up.
"How'd you know these were my favorite?" she asked, beaming up at him.
"I didn't. Fubuki recommended them."
"Oh, what a darling."
He grunted noncommittally as he sat down beside her.
"Want some?" she asked, holding the bar out towards him.
Hiei shook his head dismissively. "It was for you."
"I know, but everything tastes better when you share."
"…"
"Please?"
"…"
"Pretty please?"
Hiei stared down at the offered treat and broke a small piece off for himself. "Happy, woman?"
"Thrilled!"
He leaned back against he couch, watching as Botan continued to rummage through the bag. Her brows rounded as she pulled out a pair of yin and yang charms.
"Did you buy these?" she asked, the dangling silver pieces between them.
He shook his head. "The little menaces weren't very subtle when they insisted we use them."
Amethyst eyes grew wide as the implication finally dawned on her. "Are these couple charms?"
Hiei averted his gaze and nodded.
"Those two refuse to listen," she pouted, cheeks heated in a faint blush. "I told them that we weren't together."
"They're stubborn. And they both think they're too smart for their own good."
Botan hummed in agreement, looking back at the charms curiously. Upon further inspection, she found that they fit together with a magnetic little click. A seamless fit. Two opposites in perfect union. She pulled them apart and grinned at Hiei. "Well, misconceptions aside, it's kind of cute, isn't it?"
"Botan," he warned.
But she was already fastening the predominantly white yang charm to her phone and holding a hand out for his. "Come on, we shouldn't waste a perfectly good gift from the kids."
"I'm not defacing my phone with something so ridiculous."
"Then I suppose I'll just have to take matters into my own hands," she reasoned with a smirk.
His cell was already halfway out of his pocket, so reaching over and sliding it out of its loose perch was no trouble at all.
"Woman-"
Hiei tried to grab for his phone but ended up snatching thin air as Botan turned her back to him, curling in on herself and fumbling with the yin piece. She attached the charm in a matter of seconds, swirling back to face the incensed detective with a victorious grin.
"Tada," she announced, showing off the black device and its new accessory. "It's a perfect match."
"You're a menace, woman," he insulted, reclaiming his phone and glaring at her.
"Oh, just keep it, will you?" she urged. "My yang's destiny will never be fulfilled if its counterpart isn't used."
"That's your problem, not mine."
She pouted, going as far as batting her lashes for added effect.
"Hn, pulling faces won't work on me."
"What about asking very nicely?" she tried, clasping her hands together. "Please?"
"No."
"Pretty, pretty please?"
"No, woman."
"Pretty, pretty, pretty please?"
"Why does it matter to you so much?" he asked.
"Because it's a neat idea!" she maintained. "We can call them friendship charms if that makes it any better."
"That makes it even worse."
"Come on, don't you want to show off our newfound camaraderie?" she teased lightly.
"No."
But Hiei's expression was softer than usual, a hint of warmth flickering in his crimson eyes.
"You wound me, Jaganshi."
"And you're beyond ridiculous, Himura."
"I know!" she nodded. "So will you please humor me?"
"Just for today," he decided, dropping his phone down on the couch between them in surrender.
"That's the spirit!" she cheered as she re-situated herself on the couch. She practically forgot all about her pain and general level of discomfort with Hiei there beside her. Normally, she'd be curled up in a ball, lamenting her fate until the pills kicked in. But they didn't seem so necessary right now. Smiling, she fixed her attentions back on the television and quick became engrossed with the ongoing story. She was almost finished with her chocolate bar when Hiei spoke again.
"What is this?"
"Oh, it's a drama," she revealed, eyes getting misty as she watched the heroine give a heartfelt speech. "But I'm fearing the main leads won't be together in the end."
"…Are you crying?"
She tore her gaze away from the television and shook her head. "No!"
He raised an unconvinced brow.
"Maybe a little," she said as she blinked back the tears. "I can't help but get emotional over a heartfelt story. Even more so now."
"You've always been sentimental."
"Love is just so lovely," she sighed.
"Ridiculous," he scoffed.
Botan tilted her head at him. "You don't agree?"
"I don't romanticize it like you do."
"You mean to tell me you haven't felt anything for all those women you've been with in the past?"
"Nothing. They knew that it was just a physical thing."
"So, you've never been in love, then?"
"No."
"Me either," she revealed. "I do hope I'll get to experience it one day, though." Botan paused to nudge him. "And I'm sure you'll have your chance, too."
The detective's lips pulled into a downward slant. "I'm not particularly interested."
"Are you really not interested?" she wheedled, poking him simply because she could. "Or are you not allowing yourself to be open to the idea of it?"
Hiei swatted her hand away and then crossed his arms over his chest. "I see no difference."
"You shouldn't count yourself out like that, Hiei," she scolded. "You'd make a great catch!"
"Hardly."
"I mean it! Sure, you may seem intimidating and unyielding..." she began. "But you compromise when you need to. And you're actually pretty nice when you let your guard down."
"I'm not nice."
Botan begged to differ. He opened his home to her. He listened when she spoke. He remembered the things she said. He took her feelings into consideration. And he even indulged her from time to time, whether it be through conversation or actions.
"We'll just have to agree to disagree, then," she countered as she threw some of her blanket over his lap and made herself more comfortable.
He rolled his eyes, but he made no move to leave.
The proceeding day was far more eventful than Hiei would have liked, due in part to Botan feeling better and the weather clearing up after a few days of rain. It all started when the woman suggested they go out for lunch and fresh air. In hindsight, he should have known it wouldn't be that simple. After eating, she dragged him around the town like a pack mule while she shopped and browsed around the boutiques. Her excitement and indecisiveness stretched out into the better part of the afternoon and by the time they returned home, twilight was just beginning to set in.
They sat in silence on the couch, Hiei silently leafing through mail while Botan scribbled away in her journal. It was relatively quiet as the last vestiges of the sun filtered into the room in fragments of gold and orange. His eyes narrowed as they scanned the pile of mail. It mostly consisted of bills, advertisements and notices, nothing particularly noteworthy, and that was good. The last thing he needed was for the offender to start sending messages to the complex and for Botan to come across them. The disturbing words would undoubtedly mess with her mind and have her on edge for days to come.
He glanced at the woman from the corner of his eye. In a matter of a few weeks, she became a permanent fixture in his life. It was almost natural to be in her presence, to have her snoring in his bed, singing in his shower or making a mess in his kitchen. Traces of her existed in every corner of his apartment. Scented candles and small plants found a home on previously bare shelves. All manner of grooming tools and items cluttered his bathroom. Accessories, makeup and hair products lined his dresser. Colorful clothing took up over three quarters of his closet. The place even smelled different, depending on which candle she felt like lighting or which perfume she spritzed on.
The sound of her voice, her singing or her preferred music replaced the quietude more often than not.
And, as if to cement his musings, her phone began to ring. It was an upbeat and jaunty tune that prompted the woman to set her journal down and pad towards the bedroom in search of the device. His attention fell to the journal, as the pages flipped back to the first entry. He didn't mean to look, much less read the words, but when he saw his name, he found himself unable to turn away.
Perhaps he wasn't as disciplined as he thought.
Or maybe her curiosity was rubbing off on him.
Whatever the case was, he allowed himself this one moment of weakness as he read the last few lines of her entry.
'I've moved in with Hiei for the time being. Living with him is awful! He's rude, unkind and unsociable. He lacks manners and compassion. He's the absolute worst!
Amusement flashed over his eyes and quirked his lips up a fraction. It was only the first page, so he wasn't surprised by the antagonistic nature of her words. They fought over everything back then. They rarely saw eye to eye.
He would've been surprised if her opinion of him was anything less than negative.
Botan trounced back into the living room, smile cut short when she spotted her journal display. She snatched it up quickly, snapping the book shut to hide the evidence of her vitriolic reflections.
"There's no point in hiding it, woman. I already saw what you wrote."
Botan's grip tightened on the journal as she winced under the weight of her guilt.
"I might have been a little unfair," she conceded. "But it's not as though you made it any easier on me."
He supposed that was true, although he wasn't about to admit it aloud.
"Besides, it wasn't very long until I saw the real you and my opinion changed." She flipped through the pages and leaned closer to him, pointing to another paragraph. "See?"
Red eyes followed the flowery script. 'Maybe there's more to him than he lets on. He really isn't that bad.'
"And look at us now," she said, leaning back against the couch and fixing him with a pleased smile.
He took in the warmth of her expression: amethyst eyes twinkling and lips curved like a half moon. He wasn't sure when the chasm between them closed itself up, but they were suddenly at a place he'd never breached with anyone before. Hiei wasn't so stunted to claim that he didn't have any friends, and he was attuned to Yukina in a way that most others could not understand, but this thing with Botan was a development all its own. And he was partly to blame for that. He was the one who kept falling into her fancies and bending to her whims like some sort of weak-willed fool.
"I'm glad we made it this far," she stated. "I honestly didn't think we would."
Hiei tore his gaze away, pushing aside the warmth building in his chest. "Always so sentimental, Himura."
"And you're always so stoic," she countered with a click of her tongue. "But I know you like things better this way, mister."
"Think what you will."
"Would it kill you to say what I want to hear?"
"It just might."
Botan pouted. "Well, even if you don't feel the same, I'm still glad that things changed for the better."
Hiei paused, some of his bluster falling away with the downturn of her lips. She actually looked hurt for a moment. Surely she didn't believe that he really meant what he said. The woman couldn't be that sensitive. Or perhaps she was. She still remained a mystery; existing just beyond his comprehension.
"There's no need to sulk," he said, drawing her attentions back to him. "I'm not disagreeing with you."
"Really?" Botan lit up, her smile solar.
"Really."
"Oh, I knew it!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around his shoulders and trapping him in an embrace. Hiei immediately stiffened at the contact, eyes widening at the outburst of open affection. "I just knew you liked me!"
"Get off of me, woman."
"No!" Botan hugged him tighter. She smelled like the lavender shampoo on his shelf and the flowery scented lotion on his dresser. "We're friends now. This is just something you have to deal with."
"You're ridiculous."
"I sure am!"
Hiei had long since gotten used to Botan clinging onto him as they slept. It was commonplace; a regular occurrence. But this was new. This was a conscious decision. This wasn't something they could bury under the covers and pretend didn't occur. He should have moved away. He should have distanced himself. But she was soft and warm in all the right places and he found himself relaxing in her hold. When she eventually pulled away, he could still feel the lingering ghost of her body on his.
"Wasn't that nice?" the bluette grinned.
"What?" Hiei raised a brow. "Your attempts to squeeze me to death?"
"No, silly! A little wholesome, human contact," she clarified. When he failed to respond, she reached out and patted the top of his head with a giggle. "It's alright. We'll keep working on it. I'm certain there's hope for you yet."
Hiei pushed her hand away with a frown, but he wasn't nearly as annoyed as he let on. He was still getting used to the amity developing between them. He was still learning how to process her fond smiles and soft touches. It wasn't nearly as unbearable as it should have been, but he had no intentions of letting the grinning menace know that.
Luckily, a knock on the door diverted both of their attentions. Hiei was the first to move, if only to distance himself from the things he couldn't fully understand.
When he opened the door he was greeted with two mischievous smiles.
"What do you brats want?" he questioned.
"Botan invited us," Fubuki said pointedly.
Hiei's eyes narrowed. He wasn't in the mood for their ribbing or their pestering. All he wanted was a peaceful and quiet evening, free of any annoyances and irritations. "I'm uninviting you."
"Aw, you don't want to make your girlfriend upset, do you?" Kaisei teased.
"She isn't-"
"Hiei!" Botan exclaimed. "Are you being mean to them again?"
They both nodded, putting pouty looks on their faces as they slipped past him and made a beeline for Botan.
"After we brought gifts, too..." Kaisei mentioned.
Botan perked up. "You did?"
"Dad wanted to give you a preview of his newest story," Fubuki revealed, pulling a thick manuscript out from her backpack.
A high-pitched squeal passed through Botan's lips as she accepted the documents. She looked as though she was going to faint from the shock of it all, but Hiei didn't see the big deal.
"I can't believe I'm holding the sequel in my hands!" she exclaimed, overcome with joy. "I've been waiting for this for so long!"
"All dad asked was that you give him your honest feedback," Fubuki stated.
Botan nodded, hugging the manuscript to her chest.
"Oh, and don't think we forgot about you," Kaisei said, turning to face Hiei with a smirk. "We've got some snacks and stuff for your sweet tooth."
Botan regarded the detective with an inquiring tilt of her head. "I didn't know you were much of a snacker."
"I'm not."
"He totally is!" Fubuki snitched. "He loves all things sweet!"
"Well, isn't that unexpectedly cute!" Botan teased.
Hiei scowled. So much for keeping some things to himself. The woman would surely run her mouth to the others.
"Oh, yeah, guess what?" Kaisei began, blue eyes set eagerly on Hiei.
Fubuki joined his side, the excitement just as evident in her expression.
"What is it?" he asked, although his tone was leaning less towards interest and more on irritation.
"We got our red-black belts!" they announced in unison, striking poses.
"The dawn of a new day. The sun breaks through the darkness," Kaisei recited sagely, before breaking his pose. "The test was a piece of cake. And we'll have our black belts before you know it."
Botan blinked in surprise. "I didn't know you two were martial artists!"
They both nodded proudly.
"They're enrolled in taekwando," Hiei informed. "Despite mastering the physical maneuvers, they still have a long way to go mentally."
"Don't listen to him!" Kaisei said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "We're going to be detectives, just like mom was, and kick all kinds of bad guy butt."
"Well, maybe you two can teach me a few moves one day!" Botan suggested. "Hiei's been training me here and there, but I'm not opposed to learning more."
"Hiei was our first teacher, too," Fubuki revealed.
"I had no idea," Botan replied, surprise laced through her features.
"It was the only way to hold their attention," he explained. "At the very least, it distracted them from breaking everything in sight."
The duo didn't take any offense to it, grinning unabashedly.
"Hiei's a really strict teacher though, even tougher than our grandmaster," Fubuki revealed.
"Tell me about it," Botan replied with a sympathetic and somewhat dramatic sigh. "Sometimes, I think he only trains me because he gets pleasure out of torturing me!"
The siblings nodded their agreement with piteous frowns on their faces. Hiei ignored them all entirely, turning away from the scene until he heard the unmistakable sound of Botan's phone chiming with a text message.
"Oh, that must be the delivery!" she sang. "I hope you're all hungry!"
"I'm starving!" Kaisei exclaimed.
Hiei glared at the bluette pointedly.
"I ordered a pizza for all of us," she explained, expression turning sheepish the longer she held his gaze. "I thought we could all enjoy a night in."
"I would rather listen to one of Yomi's never-ending speeches than suffer through an evening with the devil's spawn."
"Hiei!"
"Aw, it's okay," Kaisei cut in. "Shisho always puts up a front, but he knows he loves us."
"Yeah," Fubuki piped up. "We're like the little siblings he never had."
"I already have a sister," he reminded them. "I don't need any more."
"You don't have to be so cold," Fubuki admonished, feigning offense.
"Yeah, shisho, why won't you accept our love?" Kaisei teased.
Botan hid her laughter behind her hand, but it didn't go unnoticed by the detective.
"This isn't funny, Himura."
"Oh, but it really, really is," she snorted, amethyst eyes sparkling in amusement. "I think you've finally met your match."
He rolled his eyes as Kaisei and Fubuki high-fived each other.
"It's a shame I've got to go get our pizza," she continued. "I would have loved to see how the rest of this conversation played out."
"Stay with them and make sure they don't destroy the apartment," Hiei said. "I'll go."
"It's really no trouble."
"You don't know who could be out there, woman."
"Of course I do, it's the delivery guy."
"Anyone could be skulking around the building."
"You're overthinking it."
"You're not thinking enough. You're far too trusting."
"I am not!"
"You are. I'm going and that's final."
"Talk about overprotective," Kaisei mock whispered, before turning playful blue eyes towards Hiei. "I didn't know you were such a doting boyfriend, Hiei."
"What a knight in shining armor," Fubuki snickered.
The detective held back a few choice words as he grabbed his wallet and left the apartment. No matter how badly the Sato siblings misconstrued his intentions, Hiei knew he couldn't be too cautious. The perpetrator could very well be lurking outside, just hoping for a glimpse of Botan in the flesh. If he could limit the stalker's sightings of her, then perhaps the bastard would become impatient and prone to making mistakes.
Independent of the case, though, Hiei didn't want to expose Botan to him any more than she already had been. She didn't deserve that. Even if she was a troublemaker who forced him into situations and places he was averse to.
After retrieving the large pie from the unassuming, bespectacled delivery boy, Hiei made his way back up to 4C. He could hear the trio as he approached the door, their cheerful and clear voices carrying into the hallway. They hardly noticed his entry amidst their chatting and, not for the first time, Hiei became aware of just how much changed in such a short span of time. His apartment was hardly recognizable under the friendly and inviting atmosphere created by the ones seated at his dining table. Buoyant laughter echoed off the walls. Beaming smiles brightened the air. Warmth filled every crevice. It was a far cry from the quiet and empty tone that once characterized his apartment. It was so contrary to what he was used to.
When he joined the overexcited trio, none of the usual aversion sprang to life beneath his chest. He felt oddly at peace, in a way he hadn't experienced in a long, long time. And so, the detective spent the better part of his evening halfheartedly listening Fubuki and Kaisei's stories over a large pizza, fizzy drinks and too many snacks.
He usually hated this sort of pointless socializing, but as Botan's smiling eyes connected with his from across the table, even he could admit that it wasn't so bad tonight.
Aw, Hiei's little heart is growing. Hope you enjoyed this chapter and the little interlude it brought our favorite duo. See you next time~