"This is great!" Botan exclaimed. "Nothing beats the open road and fresh air."
She was settled into the passenger's seat of Hiei's car, windows rolled half way down and wind whipping through her hair as Hiei sped down the highway. The two had been on the road for the better part of an hour, only finally making their way out of the city and onto the more scenic routes leading to Kurama's family cabin. There was nothing but long stretches of asphalt ahead, blue skies above and autumn colored trees lining either side of the highway.
She usually hitched a ride with the Kuwabaras, but traveling with Hiei bore a different kind of enjoyment. Excited conversations and boisterous laughter was replaced with comfortable silences and a peaceful tranquility. Warm rays of afternoon sun washed over them as the radio played on quietly in the background. She smiled; this was the life.
"At least one of us is eager," Hiei stated, one hand on the wheel and the other rested loosely atop the gear shift. He was going well over the speed limit and now she understood why Yusuke dubbed him with the speed-demon nickname. She supposed old habits were hard to break, even for a detective who was supposed to be upholding the law. It was a little amusing, though. For someone who was so averse to their yearly tradition, he sure wasn't wasting any time in getting there.
"I'm sure it won't be as terrible as you're expecting," she tried.
"We'll see."
Botan glanced over at the time, noting that they still had a fair bit of distance to travel.
"I can drive some of the way if you want," she offered. "It's no trouble."
"I don't trust you behind the wheel of a car."
Amethyst eyes narrowed. "I'll have you know that I'm an excellent driver. And I've got the license to prove it!"
"That mean nothing to me. Not after what Yusuke said."
She fumed. "That was outright slander! I swear!"
"So you say."
Botan folded her arms over her chest and huffed. "I can't believe you'd take Yusuke's word over my own!"
"He had no reason to lie."
"And I do?"
"To save your wounded pride - yes."
"I'll remember this, Jaganshi."
"Hn, do you as you will, Himura."
Botan wasn't nearly as incensed as she pretended to be as she angled her body away from Hiei's and fixed her gaze out the window. The scenery continued to roll by in a canvas of reds, oranges and greens while the sun crested high over the treetops. She took in a deep breath and relaxed against the seat. The air felt cleaner and lighter the farther they journeyed, unpolluted and pure of the city smog. There was hardly another vehicle in sight as they ventured further and further into the more rural parts of the area.
Weekends at the cabin marked some of her fondest memories and the opportunity to get away from the city and all it symbolized was needed now more than ever. The evidence she uncovered on Hiei's desk yesterday still weighed heavily on her mind. She couldn't get the images or the words out of her head, but, against all odds, Hiei's promise rang louder. She believed in his skills as a detective. She believed in the strength of his resolve. Simply put: she believed in Hiei. Worrying senselessly over events that had yet to pass wouldn't do her any good, so she tried to keep herself grounded in the present. She focused on the humming of the engine, the sunbeams falling over her skin, the cool wind rushing by, the hushed tones of the radio...
The bluette lit up when she recognized the familiar tune.
"Hey, I love this song!" she exclaimed, turning the volume up and nodding her head along to the rising synth beat as she regarded Hiei. "Do you know it?"
He nodded reluctantly and she wasn't surprised - it was popular years ago.
"Baby, baby..." she looked over at him playfully. "I'm taken with the notion, to love you with the sweetest of devotion."
"…"
"Come on, Hiei, I know you know the words!"
"No."
"Please?"
"I don't sing."
"Never?"
"Never."
"Fine, you'll just have to dance then," she decided, taking the wrist of his free hand and waving it right and left. He didn't put up a struggle at all as she swayed in tune to the music, using his arm as an added extension of her own. She continued to sing to him, belting out the lyrics with a flourish. "Stop for a minute. Baby, I'm so glad you're mine."
Hiei rolled his eyes, but allowed her ministrations as they cruised down the long and winding road. They stayed like that, with Botan waving his hand back and forth as she sang a few more lines to him. She released his wrist in favor of doing choreographed interpretations of the lyrics and pointing at Hiei when her favorite part played.
"And ever since the day you put my heart in motion, baby I realized that there's just no getting over you~"
He glanced at her for a quick moment and scoffed. "You're ridiculous."
But Botan wasn't deterred. She could see the amusement in his crimson eyes, plain as day. And that was all it took to spur her on. She continued serenading him for the next two and half minutes, going as far as blowing air kisses at the silent man in an attempt to keep that half-smirk on his face.
"Here for you, baby. So glad you're mine," she crooned as the song began to slowly fade out. She released his hand – she had grabbed it once more somewhere along the course of her impassioned belting – and grinned. "That was fun."
"For you maybe."
"I hope they play something good next!"
.
.
.
Botan climbed out of the sedan, pausing to stretch her cramped limbs and take in a deep, long breath of the crisp fall air. She always felt more at ease when she was surrounded by nature; rooted to a world that was stable and grounded.
Hiei was offloading their things from the trunk, so she moseyed over to help him. He already held a majority of their belongings, leaving her with her small backpack and a mini duffel bag.
"We're only here for two days," he grumbled as he hauled everything inside and toed off his boots. "Did you need to pack so much?"
"I couldn't decide on which outfits to wear," she pouted. "And I like having options."
"I should have known it was something frivolous like that."
"Fashion is not frivolous!"
"It doesn't hold nearly as much as significance as you place on it."
"You-"
"-Squabbling already?" a calm voice interjected.
They both turned to find Kurama descending the staircase with a knowing look in his emerald eyes. His hair was tied into a low ponytail, green sweater rolled up to reveal his forearms. There was a thick book in his hands and, upon closer inspection, she was unsurprised to find that it was purely scientific and related to botany.
Botan laughed sheepishly. "We'll behave, I promise."
"It's not you two that I'm worried about," he said with a smile.
"Well, I'm certain Keiko will keep Yusuke in line," she reasoned with a thoughtful tap to her chin. "And between Shizuru and Yukina, Kuwabara will have no choice but to be on his best behavior, too."
"Let's hope so," Kurama returned, although the incredulous slant of his brow revealed that he was not entirely convinced.
Botan glanced around, the deep red and brown shades that colored the cabin as familiar and unchanging as ever. The fireplace was on, warming the room and filling it with the earthy, smoky scent she had come to associate with the cabin. Pictures of Kurama and his family sat on the mantle, and above it hung a large piece of artwork. Hardwood stretched over the floors, only interrupted by pieces of cozy furniture and rugs.
"The place is as lovely as always."
"Thank you," Kurama replied. "Feel free to pick a room; you're both the first to arrive."
"Super, I'll get settled in, then!"
Botan wasted no time padding up the stairs. It was a longstanding tradition that the girls occupied the second floor, while the boys set up camp on the first. She paused in the middle of the hallway, curious gaze bouncing between the two bedrooms as she considered her options. The left was better insulated, but the right had a gorgeous view. Decisions, decisions.
"Hurry up, woman," Hiei complained.
Botan didn't realize that he followed after her until now, and a quick sideways glance confirmed that he was still carting her things dutifully.
"Just a minute," she urged, amethyst eyes darted back and forth in contemplation, before finally settling on the right room. Shizuru and Keiko hated the cold, but Botan packed extra blankets, so it wouldn't be a problem for her. Inside the room was a lone dresser with a mirror, a full-sized bed and small closet: everything she needed for a comfortable weekend stay.
Hiei set her things down on the large and intricately knitted rug and crossed his arms over his chest. "Hn, it's a wonder all your things even fit in here."
Botan laughed nervously as she glanced at the overabundance of bags. She really might have overdone it.
"Never mind about that," she said with a sheepish wave of her hand. "You should focus on choosing your room. Might as well take advantage of the perks of arriving first, right?"
He pushed his hands in his pockets and turned his back to her, but she could still picture the scowl that tugged at his lips and darkened his eyes with perfect clarity. "My only concern is rooming wherever Yusuke and Kuwabara aren't."
Botan bit back a giggle as she watched him leave, listening to his footsteps fading as he made his way down to the ground floor. Left alone in the empty room, it suddenly occurred to that this was the first time in a while that they wouldn't be sharing the same quarters, slipping beneath the same covers and sleeping side by side in the same bed. Botan didn't quite know how to feel about it, but she did know one thing: over the course of a handful of weeks, Hiei he had become somewhat of a security blanket to her, constant, familiar and unchanging.
Her expression softened as she ran her thumb over the yang charm on her phone. Despite the many differences that spanned between them, they somehow managed to find a way to meet in the middle. It was a miracle they'd come this far; she never thought they would.
The sound of a car pulling in diverted Botan's attentions. She moved to the window to see the rest of the gang piling out of Kuwabara's car. Yusuke's arm was slung around Kuwabara's shoulders, their boisterous laughter ringing through the air. She leaned on the windowsill and smiled down at the sight of everyone so happy and carefree.
It was sure to be an unforgettable weekend.
Maybe she could even get Hiei to enjoy it.
Within a matter of minutes the cabin was filled with bodies and chatter and laughter. Hiei wasn't exactly trilled to be spending the next two days with some of the noisiest people in existence, but it was simply something he had long since resigned himself to.
He was nursing a beer in the kitchen, watching the others mill around disinterestedly, when Yusuke approached him.
"You planning on joining the party anytime soon?"
Hiei's jaw ticked in annoyance, grip tightening over the neck of the bottle. "I have no interest in watching the oaf make a spectacle of himself."
Yusuke snorted.
"Well, it works to my advantage," he said, before lowering his voice into a more serious tone. "Because I've been itching to ask you about the case."
"It's nothing you haven't already figured out on your own," Hiei replied, crimson eyes shifting towards the living room. The others were all adequately distracted by Kuwabara's attempts at balancing beer cans on his forehead, meaning they could talk freely. He brought his gaze back to meet Yusuke's and continued on lowly, "We're at a stalemate. With no evidence, there's no trail to follow and no way to build a case."
"And nobody's claimed to catch sight of the guy?"
"There was one eye witness. All we gathered was that he has a slight build and dark hair."
Yusuke scoffed. "That describes damn near most of the guys Japan."
"Which is why keeping Botan within my sights is imperative," Hiei went on. "It's the only pressure I can apply. Sooner or later, it will force him out of the shadows."
"And the freak's working on a timeline, right?"
Hiei's brow furrowed. "Who told you that?"
Yusuke's expression turned sheepish. "I might have weaseled it out of Koenma."
Hiei scowled. Of course the chief couldn't keep his mouth shut.
"Hey, don't make that face, I'm not going to tell anyone."
"I know," Hiei admitted. Yusuke understood the importance of keeping the information from Botan, lest she do something self-sacrificial and silly. He kept his voice lowered as he went on. "The perp has his own set of rules that he follows meticulously. He hasn't deviated from them so far."
"So you're playing the waiting game until he makes his move."
"In a sense. We're still following every possible lead."
"I have no doubt about that." Yusuke folded his arms over his chest loosely and leaned against the counter. His eyes were filled with conviction as he regarded Hiei. "You're relentless when it comes to closing a case. Which is why I know Botan's in good hands."
Hiei knew fully well just how close Yusuke and Botan were. He understood the significance of those words and that gravity of his trust. He held Yusuke's gaze for several long moments, before eventually nodding.
Yusuke clapped a hand on Hiei's shoulder. "Let's get back to the others, yeah? I think I've reached my emotional quota for the day."
Hiei grunted in agreement, trailing after the lackadaisical detective. When they rejoined the rest of the group, they were met with the clatter of cans falling to the floor and a chorus of disappointed responses.
"A valiant effort," Kurama commended.
"Yeah," Shizuru muttered. "If you're the village idiot."
"Hey!" Kuwabara protested.
"She's right," Hiei supported caustically. "What's next? Breathing and talking at the same time?"
"Nobody asked you, shrimp!"
"Let's not start the weekend off with fighting," Botan interjected hands raised in defense as she stepped between them.
"I agree," Kurama supported. "The sun's already beginning to set. Why don't we head out and enjoy the last bit of daylight?"
"I'm down," Shizuru said, taking a stand.
"It does sound lovely," Yukina added, causing Kuwabara to lose all signs of irritation.
"Then what are we waiting for?" he asked, jumping up and grabbing her hand. "Lets go, my love."
Hiei frowned at the sight of the oaf guiding his sister away, pushing his hands into his pockets as he begrudgingly trailed behind the rest of group.
No matter how unchanging the woods were, the sunset always greeted them with a brand new visage. Today, they were washed in swathes of deep amber, the last bits of warmth cutting through the cooling temperatures. The sky burned carmine and orange, rays of light streaming through the gaps in tall trees and outstretched branches. The breeze ruffled through the changing leaves and rippled over the lake's glittering surface. Hiei took a deep breath and released it as the sounds of nature were quickly swallowed up by the dissonance of their unruly group.
"Smile!"
He turned to face Botan, his features pulled into a frown when he realized the she was taking his picture.
"Come now, this is the golden hour. It would be a shame not to memorialize the moment when everything looks so lovely."
"Then focus on the scenery and leave me be."
"Don't be like that, Hiei," she pleaded, sidling up next to him. "Surely one little picture won't kill you."
"It just might."
She smiled knowingly. "Come on. Indulge me, would you?"
He raised a brow at her. "That's all I've been doing lately."
"And hasn't it been nice?"
"Hardly."
She ignored him in favor of leaning closer and posing for the picture. He averted his gaze stubbornly, a small frown tugging his lips downwards. He didn't have to look at Botan to know that her grin was probably burning as bright as the fiery sun, her infectious mood nearly palpable as her warm body pressed against his. She failed to pull away while she was examining the shot, bottom lip jutted out petulantly.
"Couldn't you have at least smiled?"
"No."
"Well, I suppose we'll have to work on it, your surly highness."
"Don't call me that."
"Your grumpy majesty?"
"Woman-"
But she cut him off with a laugh and a mock curtsy, before moving on to pester someone else. His eyes unconsciously followed after her as she treaded towards Shizuru, the lines of his hard expression easing up just slightest bit. The woman was fanciful in every possible way. He didn't know why he humored her so often or why his will bent like rice paper under those soft looks and pleading words. He wasn't usually so weak. He wasn't usually so agreeable. But lately, he started to find himself making more concessions than normal for the blue-haired, doe-eyed woman. Crossing his arms over his chest, he turned to face the other way and ended up locking gazes with Yukina. His sister didn't say much, but her features were lifted in plain amusement.
"What?" he asked.
She shook her head. "It's nothing."
"There's something you want to say," he pressed. "I can see it written all over your face."
Yukina canted her head to the side, clearly in thought. "It's just… you seem different lately."
"Different?"
"In a good way."
Hiei frowned. He didn't know what she was getting at and it wasn't like Yukina to be so cryptic. Confusion must have been wrought over his features, because she gave him one of her sympathetic smiles and beckoned for him to follow after her. His boots crushed over dried leaves and blades of grass as she led him closer towards the lake. The fading sun glittered like gold on its surface. A few birds flew overhead, casting shadows on the ground. The rustle of leaves echoed faintly in the wind. And then, Yukina turned to him, a searching look in her eyes.
"Are you happy, Hiei?"
Although her question was a simple one, it took him a while to answer. Happiness was a concept that had no place in his life. Making it through another grueling day, moving one step closer towards his goals, ensuring that his sister was contented - those were the things that mattered most. He never stopped to think about his own enjoyment, because it never held any precedence in a world that was often cold and ruthless.
He paused to consider the current environment. Yusuke and Kuwabara were laughing loudly and scaring away all signs of wildlife. He could hear Botan and Keiko joining in, while Shizuru and Kurama spoke amongst themselves. Yukina was with him, unbothered and able to smile without a care in the world.
Out here, in the woodlands, disconnected from the rest of the world, he was free. There were no urgent responsibilities that required tending to for the next two days. Not a single case to solve. No culprit to chase. No lead to follow. And for once, he was okay with that.
The hollowness within him was filled with something warm and alive. Beating and breathing.
He wasn't exactly unhappy.
"I am," he admitted lowly.
Yukina's entire countenance seemed to brighten, the dying rays of the sun highlighting the warmth in her eyes and outlining the curve of her smile as it widened. "You don't know how happy I am to hear that, brother."
Hiei was momentarily taken aback by the emotion in her voice. He didn't realize the extent of his sister's concern until he was forced to witness the weight of her relief. He was so out of touch with everything; so unaware of the people and things surrounding him.
But all of that changed when Botan entered into his life.
Crimson eyes drifted towards her involuntarily.
The woman shook him up, realigning his priorities and reigniting the flame that he didn't even realize had been extinguished. The change was so small and gradual that he didn't even notice it occurring. But now that he was forced to stare it in the eye and acknowledge it, the effects of Botan's influence were obvious.
The crushing weight that held him down, the emptiness in his chest – they all began to fade away the moment she told him that he was more than enough. The chip on his shoulder had all but vanished, leaving him free.
He regained his sense of self, his purpose. And he was determined to never lose himself again.
He met Yukina's ruby-eyed gaze once more.
"I shouldn't have worried you," he said by way of apology.
She shook her head.
"I'm sure I'll always worry about you, Hiei," she replied softly. "It comes with the territory of being family. Especially when my twin brother loves being so reckless."
His expression softened in understanding. He knew exactly where she was coming from. He worried about her needlessly, too.
"But at least now I know you'll be okay," Yukina continued, placing her palm over her heart. "In here."
He nodded, in spite of the sentimentally of it all.
For the first time in a long time, he really and truly was okay.
.
.
.
After dinner, they all sat around the bonfire, the scent of smoke and crackle of flames permeating the air. The dark sky was illuminated with stars that put the glittering city lights to shame and the moon shone overhead.
Hiei was perched next to Botan, a mug of spiced ale in his hands. The woman edged closer to siphon some of his warmth, much like the unsubtle way she did while they were in bed. Wrapping her arms around herself, she suppressed a shiver. The hooded pink sweatshirt she wore was as thin as it was pointless, as it did little to shield her from the cold.
"You packed your entire closet and yet you still couldn't dress for the weather?" he berated.
"It's just a little chillier than I expected, is all," she defended. "But that's what I have you for! My own personal space heater."
Botan inched a little closer until her body was lightly pressed against his side. He didn't push her away, like he would have in the past. He didn't tense up, either. He simply let it be. After weeks of living in close proximity with her, he found that he didn't mind it much.
"Hn. So you use me when it suits you."
"Bingo!"
The others completed the circle around the fire, reminiscing over embarrassing memories and slip-ups from the past. Hiei didn't say much, but he did afford them the courtesy of listening and paying attention.
"How about the time Kuwabara fell in love with Botan at first sight?" Yusuke chuckled.
Kuwabara instantly turned red as Botan stiffened at Hiei's side.
"I've never heard this story before," Shizuru stated.
"Me neither," Keiko piped in.
"It wasn't nearly as dramatic as Yusuke's making it sound," Botan tried to amend, although the way her cheeks began to heat up undermined her words. "We just met and-"
"-And he had it bad," Yusuke tacked on. "The big lug wouldn't shut up about her silky hair and pretty eyes."
Yukina's eyes widened in surprise, while Hiei's narrowed, hands gripping his drink a little tighter.
"Yusuke!" Botan admonished. "You're really not helping!"
"He even said he was going to marry her-"
"-Wait a minute, you're the pretty lady he kept going on about back then?" Shizuru realized, pointing a finger over at Botan.
"Guilty as charged…" she answered through a nervous chuckle.
Shizuru nodded. "Well, at least my baby bro has high standards."
"Hn. It's clear the oaf has a tendency of picking women out of his league," Hiei insulted.
"Oh, bite my ankles, shorty!" Kuwabara bellowed, before facing Yukina. His voice lowered an octave, charcoal gaze turning intense and serious. "Don't listen to them, baby, you know you're the only girl in the world for me."
"It's okay, Kazuma," she reassured. "I'm just surprised. This is my first time hearing about it."
"That's because we weren't ever supposed to bring it up again," he gritted, glaring daggers at Yusuke from across the flames.
"Aw, lighten up, Kuwabara. It was just a little lighthearted fun!" Yusuke grinned, before taking a swig of his beer.
Kuwabara huffed. "Fine. If we're strolling down memory lane, then how about the time you thought it was a good idea to grow your hair out and get those weird temporary, tribal tattoos?"
Keiko giggled. "He looked like something straight out of a horror movie."
"Hey!" Yusuke shouted, slapping a hand on his knee indignantly. "I rocked that look and you all know it."
"No, hun, I don't think you did," Shizuru countered coolly.
"Alright, then what about you and your..."
Shizuru lifted a brow, staring Yusuke down challengingly.
"Your..." He motioned towards her lamely, before dropping his hand and deflating with a sigh. "I've got nothing."
"I've got a ton-" Kuwabara yelped in pain as Shizuru elbowed him. "Never mind."
And on and on they went, before eventually landing on a topic Hiei thought was even more ridiculous than the last few.
"Hey, did you guys hear about the haunting?" Kuwabara asked.
"Haunting?" Keiko echoed.
"Yeah, they say a girl died out in these woods," Kuwabara divulged, cocking a thumb to the trees behind him. "And every night she goes on the prowl, looking for a new victim to possess."
"How did she die?" Yukina asked.
"It's rumored that she was murdered. And now she wants others to suffer, too," Kuwabara stated, his dark gaze reflecting the orange flames of the bonfire eerily. "Supposedly, she only possesses women and harms men. Which means no one is really safe."
"Oh, that's awful!" Botan lamented, blue brows creased with worry.
"And unlikely," Hiei scoffed.
"I have to agree with mister grumpy," Yusuke said. "There's no way we have ghosts floating around, terrorizing people."
"It isn't crazy to believe we aren't alone on this plane of existence," Shizuru stated.
"Easy for you to say, you Kuwabaras are all into that ESP shit," Yusuke said with a dismissive wave of his hand. He glanced over at Kurama. "Come on, back me up, mister science."
Kurama's hands were pushed into the pockets of his jacket, his posture relaxed and gaze even as he spoke, "I can't say with utmost certainty. Although I've never had any encounters with the supernatural, I haven't counted it out, either."
"And I guess you all believe there are aliens out there, too," Yusuke scoffed.
"Don't be so close-minded, Yusuke," Keiko said. "The universe is so vast; why couldn't there be other forms of life out there?"
"Ooh, maybe there are even alternate realities, too," Botan added with an excited grin. "You know, like the one in Kuwabara's dreams."
"Okay, now that would be badass," Yusuke admitted with a smirk.
"You're only agreeing with it because you're a powerful fighter, aren't you?" Keiko pointed out through a fond smile.
"Duh!" he grinned, fixing his gaze on Kuwabara. "What's that move you say I always use?"
"The spirit gun," he filled in.
"It sure would come in handy when I'm on a case," he smirked, forming a gun with his right hand.
Kuwabara grinned.
"It is intriguing," Kurama professed. "The idea of different worlds and beings…"
But Hiei couldn't agree less. As he glanced around the bonfire and viewed the familiar faces cast in an orange glow, he decided that this life was more than enough.
Botan blinked up at the ceiling, wide-awake and unable to get any rest. It was well past midnight and Yukina was already sleeping soundly, her breathing deep and even. Botan had tried counting sheep, but when she reached a hundred and forty-seven, she realized that it was a wasted endeavor. Perhaps a warm drink was what she needed. Maybe that would relax her enough to finally grant her the slumber she so desperately craved. With her mind made up, she carefully extracted herself from the covers and quietly padded down to the kitchen.
It was dark in the living room, so Botan was forced to move around blindly. She'd been hoping to find a light switch or lamp, but stiffened when she spotted the outline of a person in the darkness. She opened her mouth to let out an ear-piercing shriek, when a warm, familiar hand covered her mouth and stifled the sound.
"It's only me."
Botan sighed in relief upon registering Hiei's voice.
"You nearly gave me a heart attack!" she whispered after he released her.
"And you nearly woke the entire house."
She followed the outline of his form into the kitchen, where a slice of moonlight afforded just enough illumination for them to see each other clearly.
"So, what brings you out here?" Botan asked, taking a seat at the island. "Do you enjoy skulking around in the shadows, scaring poor and unsuspecting girls like myself?"
"Hn, hardly," he grunted out as he lowered himself down on the barstool closest to her. "The fox snores."
Botan's eyes widened in disbelief. "No way!"
"He's not as loud as you, but it is grating," he told her.
"Now I know you're bluffing. I don't snore, Hiei!"
"Perhaps I should record you. Then you can hear it for yourself."
"No, that's alright. I'd much rather live in ignorance."
He let out a low sound of amusement, the echoes of it warming her chest.
"Nice to know my misery gives you joy, Hiei," she said, bumping her shoulder into his playfully.
"You make it far too easy, woman."
"No, I think you just like teasing me."
"You aren't wrong."
She smiled, in spite of what he just confessed. In the pale light of the moon, everything from his sharp gaze to the angle of his upturned lips seemed softer. His crimson eyes glowed as they rested on hers, open and unguarded.
"Why are you still awake?" he asked suddenly.
"I don't know. Yukina's the perfect roommate: quiet, considerate and thoughtful. I shouldn't have had any trouble, but I just feel restless."
"I see."
She tapped her fingers against the tabletop, before perking up. "What do you say we have a little fun?"
He raised a skeptical brow.
"We should prank the boys," she suggested, mischief sparkling in her eyes. "Draw on their faces… or put things in their hair."
"How old are you?"
She wilted. "It's just a little lighthearted fun…"
"Which will inevitably turn into an all out war," he predicted. "And that is something I refuse to get dragged into."
Botan paled as she considered all the ways Yusuke and Kuwabara could retaliate. She conceded with a nod. "You have a point there."
"Just go back to bed," he instructed.
"But I'm wide awake! And so are you, so let's do something."
"It's the middle of the night in the middle of the nowhere."
"Exactly, adventure is calling!"
Hiei eyed her for a few moments, caught between instant refusal and begrudging compliance. She could see his features pinch as he warred with himself and then relax as he resigned himself to his fate. Wordlessly, he rose to his feet with a sigh, hands pushed in his pants pockets.
"A short walk," he decided. "But that's all."
And so, they threw their jackets on over their sleepwear, slipped their shoes on and stepped into the night. The air was cold and nearly frigid. Neither the sliver of moon or splatter of stars afforded enough light, so Hiei pulled his phone out and shined the flashlight in front of them.
There was a cacophony of sounds: twigs cracking beneath their feet, nocturnal creatures yipping as they scurried across the undergrowth, wind slipping through the trees. Every now and again the branch of a tree or clump of a bush brushed against Botan's body, causing her to flinch.
"It's kind of eerie, isn't it?" she said, stepping closer to Hiei.
"Scared?"
"N-no."
There was the distant echoing of a howl, prompting Botan to latch onto his arm. Hiei's smirk was nearly swallowed up by the darkness, but his teasing tone still carried in the silent air.
"I thought you wanted adventure, woman?"
"I do!"
"Then why are you latching on to me?"
"For warmth!"
They followed the trail into the woods, Hiei's phone casting an unnatural light ahead for them. The wind continued to whistle through the air, shaking the leaves on their branches and creating more of that eerie, bustling noise that left her feeling unsettled and off-kilter. Botan tightened her hold on Hiei's arm, glued to his side as they carried on.
"You don't actually believe in those silly ghost stories, do you?" he asked.
"Of course I do!"
"Of course you do," he repeated flatly.
"There's no need to be such a skeptic, you know," she admonished.
"And there's no need to believe in everything, either."
"Maybe," she agreed. "But... say Kuwabara's story was real? What if these woods really are haunted by a vengeful spirit?"
"Then we'd be the fools for venturing out here past sunset."
"..." Botan gulped.
"And you'd be the one that gets possessed."
"What? Why me?"
"The oaf did say that she preferred to use women to enact her revenge."
"Oh poo..."
"But there's no dead girl, no apparition and no chances of you getting possessed tonight."
"Why is that?"
"Because we're already back."
Botan blinked through the darkness, perking up as the cabin came into view. She didn't even realize they already made a full lap, but she was beyond ecstatic to reenter the quiet and humble abode. The cabin was leagues warmer than outside and much more inviting. Upon shedding her jacket and shoes, she let out a yawn.
"You should turn in," Hiei advised. "It's late."
Botan's exhaustion was finally catching up to her, limbs feeling heavy and languid. All of that excitement must have worn her out.
"I hope I can actually fall asleep this time," she said through another yawn. "The bed feels so strange without you."
Botan froze when she realized what she accidentally revealed. Hiei's eyes were just a fraction wider, red irises set on her. She cleared her throat purposefully, hoping that he couldn't see her blush.
"Um, what I meant to say was..." she tried to backpedal. "It's just... you-"
"I know," he admitted lowly. "You don't have to explain it."
His words were like a soothing balm over the pinpricks of panic that settled over her skin. It was reassuring to know that he felt the same; that she wasn't completely crazy for wishing that he were the one beside her tonight.
They continued on silently, passing through the living room and venturing further inside the main floor. Rather than enter into the hallway that led to his shared room with Kurama, Hiei continued onwards, hands pushed into his pockets and expression neutral. He accompanied her to the stairwell, coming to a halt in front of the first step and motioning for her to go on ahead. Botan nodded, walking up the steps quietly, careful to avoid the places that were known to creak. When she finally reached the second floor, she found herself pausing and turning back to look at Hiei. She wasn't the slightest bit surprised to find him exactly where she left him: arms loosely folded over his chest and his watchful eyes rested on her. Warmth blossomed in her chest, chasing away the autumn chill and drawing a gentle, soft smile to her lips.
"Goodnight, Hiei."
"Sleep well, woman."
Hope you guys enjoyed the obligatory Cabin Chapter! :) Drop a review and let me know your thoughts~