Disclaimer: I don't own YYH or the characters. Hiei's drink preference belongs to MystiKoorime.
As promised, Hiei left quite a bit for him and Botan to do together to get the nursery in working order. All the clothes and toys still needed to be sorted, so he brought everything into the room along with a chair for Botan to sit. The two worked in companionable silence. Botan removed tags from new clothing and folded the outfits and onesies. Hiei took them from her and stocked the dresser drawers.
It was a quiet day; the wind barely blew outside, though it was getting chillier by the day. The weather reports indicated snow would fall, though thankfully not that much. Hiei wasn't looking forward to the frozen precipitation. Snow always served to remind him of the Glacial Village. Despite completing domestic tasks with Botan to prepare for the arrival of their son, the fire demon felt rather despondent. If the ferry girl picked up on his mood, she thankfully let it be.
A sigh escaped the woman when the two finally unpacked all of the shopping and gift bags. The room looked so much fuller with various toys and play things. There was a baby swing for when the child got a bit older. For when he was a younger baby, their was a little gym with toys that hung from strings. The child could lie on his back and reach up; the thing would teach him hand eye coordination. Hiei didn't understand the need for it to be so colorful, but he figured that this toy could serve as a training tool before his son could walk. There was also something the infant could stand in and walk around the apartment while playing with toys. Again, Hiei wasn't sure all these toys and trinkets were necessary, but considering he didn't have anything like that growing up, a part of his was interested in what it could do for their son. Botan seemed to think it was all needed.
"So, now that we have the nursery set up," Botan murmured tiredly, "what do you want to do?"
Hiei grimaced. Honestly, despite the snow, the two had planned to go out. The fire demon knew the woman was in need of time out in the world. Botan was always so outgoing, and even though she went shopping with the girls from time to time, the closer they got to both winter and birth, Botan remained inside more often than not. It's why their friends planned an actual night out for the group. Although Hiei was reluctant to go, Botan wanted to. She'd been looking forward to it all week.
If he wanted, Hiei could suggest they do something and not point out her forgetfulness. That would be selfish, he knew. Besides, his guidebook told him to support her and help her cope with her forgetfulness. With the feelings of guilt she had in being so out of tune with her friends' lives… No, Hiei couldn't do that to her.
"We should get ready to meet the others for dinner," he suggested. "The detective seems very smug about planning a 'pregnant friendly evening' you can enjoy."
Botan's expression turned blank before it switched to horror. "Oh, I knew I was forgetting something! I'm the absolute worst!"
Thankfully, Botan wasn't looking at him during her lamentation as Hiei rolled his eyes over her dramatics. The fire demon approached the woman and placed his hands on her shoulders. She was still sitting in her rocking chair and needed to look up to meet his stern gaze. "You are fine," he told her. "It's a pregnancy side effect, remember? You're getting close to the end of this."
Immediately, Botan's expression shifted from guilt to calm as she searched Hiei's expression for the veracity of his statement. She heaved a huge breath of relief and then put on a smile. "You're right," she reminded herself. "Of course you're right. There's nothing to be upset about. I have you here to remind me." Then, her eyes turned wistful. "I'll miss that."
Hiei's brow furrowed as his mind raged its mental battle. This had been going on for a couple of weeks now, and Hiei knew it was his doing. When he expressed the parenting plan once the baby was born, he only addressed what would happen career-wise for them. When Botan was in Spirit World, Hiei would be with the child, and when Hiei was needed in Demon World, Botan would be there. He did not explain where their relationship would go, mainly because he still wasn't used to the idea that her heart belonged to him. His own attraction and care was a given, or at least he believed he made it as clear as possible by now. He didn't want to rush into things, which was Yukina's advice, to just simply be. But these concerns of Botan's made it harder to let things be.
"It's not like you won't see me," he offered. When Botan looked at him like he had multiple heads, a pang fired off in his chest. That bewilderment over such a simple statement certainly clarified that that was how Botan took it when he broached the subject weeks ago.
"I will?" the ferry girl asked breathlessly. "B-but I thought…"
Hiei schooled his features to hide just how bothered he felt that he caused her such doubt. "This is all still new to me," he explained. "I…wasn't clear. I didn't think I needed to explain myself at this point, but I can see I was wrong."
Botan perked up. "What do you mean?"
Hiei's hands slid down her shoulders to rest on her hands. He would not meet her gaze. "When I suggested what I did, I didn't expect that we would never cross paths. There will be times when I'm needed in Demon World and you're needed in Spirit World, and so one of us will have to remain with our son." The ferry girl's eyes dimmed again, so Hiei swallowed his pride and forced the words out. "But," he paused, "there will be times where we both are needed here for him, or when our presence won't be required in either world. During those times…"
He didn't need to finish his sentence because Botan her him loud and clear. The way her expression lit up twisted Hiei's inside in both a pleasant and painful way. He was never one for words, never felt they were needed, but the demon was once again reminded that Botan came from a different world, one more similar to the human realm, and his human fatherhood guidebook kept emphasizing one word: 'communication'. He should have put Botan's mind at ease much soon.
"I…" Botan murmured, her voice filled with happiness as she tried to find the words to say. "I thought, when you said that…I thought you didn't want to be with me anymore." Tears pricked at her eyes, but Hiei knew she was more emotional than upset. "I tried to tell myself to just enjoy the moment, but thinking that we were on borrowed time…"
"We aren't on borrowed time," Hiei assured her. Again, he kicked himself for letting this happen. He knew Botan was struggling, and he had inklings as to why, but he assumed she knew he'd still want to be with her and she was just sad their time would be more divided. "Besides, once you have your wits about yourself again, I can't imagine you won't hunt me down to drag me to those ridiculous gatherings at Genkai's and everything in between."
Botan laughed, and then blinked the tears away. A few streamed down her face, but Hiei wiped them away with his thumb. "You would let me drag you away?"
Hiei shrugged, a mask of indifference. "Between you and the kid, I don't know who will be worse."
He was caught off-guard as Botan embraced him tightly to her. Her body shook as she held him, the emotional flood she'd buried down inside flowing out freely. A sigh escaped Hiei as he patted her back. As awkward as he felt comforting the woman, he had to admit it felt much better to get his thoughts and feelings out there. Maybe they needed to start doing that again instead of just assuming to know what the other was thinking. Although they knew each other better than most by this point, after going through this ordeal together, they were still estranged when it came to the inner workings of their minds. They had been thrown into this, for lack of a better word, 'relationship' instead of working their way up to it. Botan was still as much of an enigma as she was at their friends' parties, and he was just as guarded.
After about fifteen minutes, Botan calmed and relaxed against Hiei. She pulled away to look into uncomfortable crimson eyes. With a sheepish smile, she pushed her hair off her face and said, "We still have a while before we have to meet up with everyone. Do you want to read the week thirty-three points with me before I start getting ready?"
A nod was her answer, and Botan internally beamed with joy. For the past couple weeks, her moods wavered between highs and lows. The highs would be in response to Hiei's continued presence and support, and they'd be followed by the lows in regard to Hiei's plan to leave and never see her again. Now that Hiei's true intentions were laid before them, Botan felt like everything would be okay.
Hiei didn't know how he let himself get talked into attending this strange get-together. Yusuke and Kuwabara outdid themselves with their plans, which they happily took credit for. The evening started at a lowkey burger joint, a place Hiei remembered from a past outing of raucous laughter and drinks. Back then, the group was brought to a room in the back, the largest table in the joint. The guys sat on one side of the table across from the girls. Yusuke and Keiko were on the farthest end and, to Hiei's irritation, Yukina sat across from Kuwabara. Kurama and Shizuru sat across from each other and chatted while Hiei and Botan sat on the end.
The group was rowdy and needed to yell over each other to be heard with the music and noise from the main room of the restaurant. Hiei remembered how he spent most of the evening glaring at Kuwabara for flirting with his sister. Yukina had a red tint to her cheeks, and Hiei assumed she'd uncharacteristically had a drink, but now knowing what Hiei knew about the psychic's relationship with his sister, it was possible Yukina smiled and blushed because she enjoyed the attention. The fire demon also tried to tune out the discussion between the fox and the oaf's sister. Then a voice cut through his thoughts.
"So," the ferry girl tentatively murmured, "how's life at Mukuro's camp treating you?"
Hiei snapped his attention to the woman and glared at her. "What?"
His angry growl didn't seem to faze the human-disguised spirit. "How is it at Mukuro's?"
Red eyes narrowed into slits. "Why should I tell you? Planning to report back to Koenma?"
Botan blinked in confusion. "No," the ferry girl replied. "Honestly, I was just curious and wanted to catch up. It's been a while since I've seen you."
Hiei scoffed derisively. Honestly, he'd hardly noticed how long he'd been away, and he certainly never considered how long it had been since he last spoke with the ferry girl. He couldn't have cared less even if he tried.
"Ever think that was by design?" Instead of disarming the ferry girl and getting her to leave him be, Botan merely laughed as she nursed her own beer. Maybe that disgusting drink was why she was unusually daring. "Never took you for a beer drinker."
Amethyst eyes, tinted lavender by the lighting, lit up with mirth. "Well, I'm not sure if I should take that as a compliment or an insult." Hiei grunted and shrugged. He didn't give a damn how she took it. "I'm usually not, but it just seemed proper considering where we are. It actually pairs quite nicely with the food." She looked to his drink and nudged her head in that direction. "Is that any good?"
Again, Hiei shrugged as he picked up the glass holding his cinnamon whiskey. It was one of the few human drinks he found tolerable. "You wouldn't be able to handle it."
The amusement left the woman as irritation settled in. "I'll have you know I've had plenty of different drinks, and I can so hold my liquor."
The fire demon smirked. Getting a rise out of the woman had become somewhat of a challenge during their random times together. The hilarity of her ire always seemed to erase Hiei's boredom at these events. "Care to put your money where your mouth is, woman? I guarantee you couldn't beat me even if you tried."
"Hmph," Botan huffed. Her eyes filled with fire as she crossed her arms and looked away from the demon. The pout on her face rested there for only a few moments before she sighed and looked back to Hiei. "Maybe I'd surprise you."
Hiei snorted. "Nothing about you is surprising."
Botan didn't reply to that, and Hiei had already moved to down the rest of his drink. If he'd been looking at the woman, he would have seen the surprised expression on her face. His words stunned her into silence, but he'd no idea why. Eventually, she spoke again, changing the subject. He didn't understand why she couldn't take the hint that he wanted to be left alone.
"Can you believe that Yusuke and Keiko are getting married next month?" she asked him, as if he'd have any interest.
Hiei wanted to curse the woman and tell her shut up and leave him be. At least, he thought that was what he wanted. Instead, he engaged with the woman despite what he once thought he wished. "I don't understand why you'd even think to ask me about that. I don't give a damn about this long, drawn out ceremony. In Demon World, if two idiots want to be together, they mate, and that's the end of it."
Botan's nose scrunched up. "That doesn't sound very romantic." Hiei scoffed again, though this time his tone sounded like more of a laugh. Botan didn't find what she said funny. "What?"
"Romance," he spat, "doesn't exist in my world. It's kill or be killed, and that's the only 'relationship' needed."
At that, Botan's eyes grew sad, but then she put on a smile and the foolish optimism poured off her in waves. "I don't think that's true. All the worlds are very similar. Even if things are done a little differently, I'm sure romance and love can be experienced by everyone."
She was delusional, Hiei believed at the time. Back then, Hiei didn't know why he humored the woman, and he mentally kicked himself afterwards. At the time, Hiei truly believed he was unsuited for anything remotely romantic, didn't believe in feeling connected to another. Now, in the present, he realized that was just another moment that bound him to the ferry girl. Their conversation then is most likely what prompted the woman to challenge him to that drinking contest in the first place.
Now, the group sat in the same arrangement at that same table, although this time everyone drank soda instead of alcohol to be 'fair' to Botan. The dynamics were similar, although Hiei did not feel animosity towards Kuwabara's antics and flowery words to his sister. The detective was married. Kurama and Shizuru were comparing notes on their elusive relationships. As for Hiei and Botan…
"Hey, I wanna make a toast, guys," Yusuke declared before he stood up and held up his coke. He looked to the couple at the other end of the table. "It's not often we all get together like this, and Hiei, I'm looking at you."
The fire demon scoffed and looked away, but his expression softened when her heard Botan giggle. He met her warm and loving gaze and took her hand in his. The action didn't go unnoticed by Yusuke, and he grinned a wide grin. As sappy as it would sound, he was overjoyed to see the gesture.
"But we're all here now," he remarked, "and that's what's important." He raised his glass over his head and everyone clinked their glasses and took their drinks. "And, there's one more thing I'd like to say."
Everyone paused at the unusually serious tone of the former detective. All eyes landed on the man, and he grinned. His eyes fell on Hiei and Botan, and there was a warmth reflected in his brown orbs. "Cheers to you two…for starting the next generation of our family."
Botan beamed so brightly with happiness that tears pricked her eyes. She managed to stave off her hormones and laugh instead as everyone agreed and took their drinks. Hiei was practically paralyzed from the sentiment. He ended up in a stare off with Yusuke; the latter grinned widely and nodded to him. The fire demon didn't know how to react the the former detective's unexpected words.
Later, the group went to an arcade. Hiei stood off to the side, still contemplating Yusuke's words from earlier, as he watched his sister and Botan play some 'ice ball' game. Kuwabara brought a travel stool for Botan to sit on, to be easier on her feet and back. Botan seemed so carefree at the moment, rolling spheres up some ramp to score points. She gave Yusuke a high five when she won.
Hiei's expression softened. To be honest, he never thought he'd be in a place like this, both physically and emotionally. The arcade was a given. Hiei avoided all sorts of human venues even during his probation, but lately he'd seen a different side to their world now that he would have a son who would be a part of it. Never had he gone along with the group of his own volition. Either Yukina would have to ask or Kurama would have to pester him. Hiei always attended, but the detective's words that night showed him the real reason he went that he never observed before.
Hiei was part of a family. He thought more recently how Botan and the baby gave him a true family, but he never considered that he already had been accepted into one. In the past, the closest thing he had to a family were the bandits who abandoned him. When that happened, Hiei felt empty and cold. He never believed he'd be accepted anywhere, that he was alone in the world, but it was not the case. The second he'd been sucked into Spirit World's orbit, as much as he hated doing its bidding, Hiei reluctantly became part of a team. Years of struggles and trials bonded them all together, so much so that they became a true family.
The fire demon couldn't quell the sentiments that arose within him as he observed his family. His eyes landed on Botan's large swell and he felt something he could not put into words. Although Hiei was cursed by his people, sent to his death, and told he'd bring an end to anything he touched, the reality before him starkly contrasted with those prophecies.
He was a cold and cruel thief but, when it really mattered, he put that all behind him. Instead, he and, by extension, his child would always be surrounded by people who cared, who worried for their wellbeing, and, dare he say, loved them.
As confusing as the emotion was, Hiei found value in it. There was still more he needed to face, his own inner demons that needed to be snuffed out, but at least he didn't have to face it alone.
Botan hummed happily as she read one of her mystery books. She rested on the couch with her feet propped up on pillows, and that was how Hiei left her when he went to the roof to train. It was nice to have a calm, quiet day, especially after all the fun the previous night. The ferry girl was so happy to have a regular outing for once where everyone could just good off and hang out without a care. The evening had done wonders for her and, honestly, she suspected it was good for Hiei also.
When Yusuke made that toast, Botan could see so much emotion in her lover's eyes. Hiei seemed so baffled by the notion that Yusuke and the others considered him family. Sure, he was related to Yukina, and she and the baby were a given, but to hear how everyone agreed to those sentiments…Botan was certain that after what she knew of Hiei's past, Yusuke's words buried deep into the fire demon's soul.
"Your daddy is still getting used to the idea," Botan lovingly murmured. She rubbed her stomach and felt the baby gently kick into her hand. A subtle smiled graced her features and she leaned back against the couch. "We'll just have to keep showing him he always has a place to go."
"Talking to yourself, woman?"
Botan's attention shifted to the door; Hiei returned from training and left his sword by the entrance. He came to her and sat down next to the woman. She noticed that he was sweating and breathing heavily, and she pulled him into her side. The fire demon was too exhausted to fight her on that, leaned his head against her shoulder, and closed his eyes.
"Looks like someone had an intense workout," Bulma chimed cheerily. When Hiei grunted, her smile became more wistful. "You okay?"
"Fine," Hiei answered. "Just had a lot on my mind. It kind of took a life of its own while I was training."
Concern flickered through Botan's eyes, but she quickly snuffed it out in case Hiei looked at her but assumed it was pity. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Hiei released a straggled laugh. "Talk," the fire demon replied. "That's what my guide keeps saying I need to do, but I keep fighting against it."
Instead of chiding him, like Hiei expected she'd do, Botan simply said, "Maybe that's because you haven't had anyone listen to you for so long, so now that you have friends and family who want to listen, you don't know what to do about it."
Hiei's eyes snapped open, and he met Botan's gaze. The ferry girl was taken aback by the completely open and vulnerable expression written all over Hiei's face. That was all the proof Botan needed to know that her words hit the nail right on the head.
"How do you do that?" Hiei questioned her, his voice almost filled with childlike wonder. "Put my emotions into words."
Botan's lips quirked upwards, a sad tint to her expression. "That's literally my job, Hiei," she explained. "Dying is a very emotional thing, and the spirits don't understand what's happening to them. Sometimes everyone, living or dead, needs someone to point out what they're feeling, especially when the emotion is so intense, they can't express themselves."
It made sense, but Hiei wasn't a fool. He'd been in Spirit World long enough to know that not all the ferry girls were capable at doing this, at seeing right through someone to express their feelings for them. There was something special about Botan. It's what made her one of the few he could tolerate at those gatherings, the one he took to bed. She was probably the only woman who would want him to father her child and be a part of their lives. It had nothing to do with a lack of self-preservation like Hiei first considered, but because of the overwhelmingly large size of her heart and the kindness buried deep in her soul.
Hiei didn't know when he pulled the woman towards him, but he registered the instant her lips touched his. In that moment, his insides were set aflame with emotions he could not describe, but he didn't need the woman to put them into words right now. It didn't even bother him when her felt little jabs against his ribcage. In fact, his mouth upturned quickly before he let his passion pour out of him. It appeared what they read in Botan's maternal guide was true. Their son was growing, healthy, and getting more active as they grew closer to the due date. Where they still had a month, give or take, before he'd arrive, the anticipation made it seem all the more exciting.
Oh course, with the increase in sharp kicks and jabs, Botan needed to pull away and catch her breath. There was still that pesky side effect to contend with, but it didn't upset Botan. Once she was able to breathe normally, she grinned at Hiei.
"Well, it seems like you're not the only one who likes to train so much," Botan simpered. "That makes me happy, although it will be nice when his little training bouts happen outside my body."
An amused chuckle left Hiei's lips and his mouth quirked into a half-smirk. "Yes, blame me, but are you sure that the kid is training, or is he just partaking in your usual activity of voyeurism?"
Botan let out an indignant cry, and Hiei snickered at her outburst. She flashed him a look of irritation. "You're lucky I put up with you, mister."
Hiei really couldn't deny that. His expression softened, and Botan's breath nearly caught in her throat when she recognized the emotion reflected in his eyes. There was a fondness there as well as desire and joy. The ferry girl knew that look. It's how she'd been looking at Hiei for a long time.
At her surprised glance, Hiei's expression shifted. "Something wrong?"
Botan shook her head, a smile on her face as she regarded the fire demon. "Nothing's wrong," she reassured him. "I just…I'm really happy you're here."
Hiei slowly approached the woman again and took her hand in his. She appeared perplexed by Hiei's actions. "Follow me," he instructed. Botan nodded and let Hiei lead her to a room—their room.
As hard as it had been to make the decision to finally accept they were together, Hiei enjoyed the intimacy that came with sharing a room. Although he didn't have much, he could see traces of the both of them in the shared space. After a few days of getting used to the idea, Hiei surrendered to the feelings of peace Botan brought him. He never felt like that before, always on guard and unable to let himself be fully vulnerable.
The two curled up in their bed. Hiei kissed the ferry girl passionately without restraint. Botan allowed Hiei's hands to wander as they caressed her body and the swell of her belly. Her eyes were closed, so she didn't see the slightly devious look Hiei flashed her way. As one hand continued to trail her skin, the other removed the white bandana that covered his Jagan. The third eye opened and glowed as it initiated a connection to communicate with Botan's body.
Botan felt a jolt in her mind. It startled her, and she gasped which broke their kiss. After the initial ping, Botan felt nothing but pure euphoria. She whimpered a soft, "Hiei," but he gently shushed her.
In her mind, he asked, Do you trust me?
The woman couldn't form words or a coherent thought, so she just nodded. Hiei smirked and captured her lips again. He used the Jagan to send gentle jolts through Botan's human body, both to relax her and excite her. As he did this, Hiei ran his hand through the ferry girl's hair. The sensations built energy up within Botan, and she gasped at the overwhelming feeling. Hiei swallowed her gasp and gently coaxed her down from her high to rest.
The glow of the Jagan dissipated, and the eye closed once again. Botan peeked her eyes open to meet Hiei's and a sleepy smile graced her features. "Hiei," she murmured his name again before he pulled her into his protective hold.
Hiei came down from his own high caused from the elation that he'd been able to provoke such intense feelings in Botan and how he was so attuned to all of them. It was the most intimate he'd ever been with another individual. Even his random trysts in Demon World meant nothing in comparison. The fire demon knew, in this moment, that no other woman would do. His relationship with Botan…it was indescribable.
"All right, Urameshi. Time to pay up," Kuwabara declared. "At this point, even you have to know they're staying together."
"Agreed," Kurama interjected. "I think it's time to address reality."
Yusuke grinned at his two redheaded friends. Honestly, he'd been waiting for this moment. The signs that things changed between Hiei and Botan had been growing increasingly more obvious. The secretive glances, Botan's smiles, the closeness, Hiei taking her hand. Yusuke was prepared to pay up the day that they set up the nursery and Hiei chose to move into Botan's room. Neither Kuwabara nor Kurama brought up the bet, then, so Yusuke stayed quiet. Now, though, after seeing how the two interacted in public in front of everyone…there was no question.
Botan and Hiei were a couple.
The whole bet surrounded the time where Hiei told Botan he wouldn't stick around and Botan threw him out. Kuwabara said these were the stakes: the two would make up, get together, and then raise their baby together. They did make up, they were together, and Yusuke knew that, with how involved Hiei was with the baby shower and setting up the nursery, the fire demon would be raising this child too.
"Here ya go," Yusuke said as he handed two wads of cash out to his friends. "Gotta say, I was hoping for this outcome, and I'm happy to do it. Best money I ever lost."
A/N: And the bet is finally over, and it's deemed Hiei and Botan are truly a couple! Yusuke, such a big softie secretly hoping to pay up after all this time.
Time for review responses!
SaiyanWarrior200: Glad you enjoyed the chapter. We needed some sweetness and lots less angst, especially with this year. Hope you are well!
jtdarkman: Your review meant a lot to me too! Thank you so much for being a continued support of this and my other stories. I appreciate the understanding for my injury. I never really left, just didn't write much. During the worst part of my injury, I'd write a sentence here or paragraph there of various projects, but nothing substantial to warrant a full chapter. So to me, I never left, but I realize that holy cow, it was a long time since I posted anything. I made one post in July in another fandom, but that was it. It was a far cry from being able to do one update a week of something during the beginning of COVID. Be well! And again, thank you :)
Jessica: Glad you enjoyed it!
Bmidd111: I actually have plans for two side stories after this, and one of them is a drabble series about Hiei and Botan with their son. It probably won't be in chronological order, just moments in time. I'll also be doing a side story about what the other characters were experiencing while Hiei and Botan were going through this ordeal of pregnancy and beginning a relationship. So make sure to keep your eyes out when this story is completed. :) Also, in the meantime, check out of MystiKoorime's story, Home Is Where the Heart Is. This is a sequel to her story, Home, and highlights a lot of the points you mentioned in your review. Both are a great read.
DaughterofTerra73: No worries ^^ You didn't come off as pushy at all! I just knew I had missed the review in my inbox. I really appreciate that you enjoy the story :) It's definitely one of the most fun writing projects I've ever worked on.
