Happy New Year to my lovely HB Nation! I hope 2022 is treating you all well. This fic has been a long time coming, but I'm finally ready to dust off this old WIP and get the ball rolling. This will be a loose series rewrite staring HB as friends. I'm anticipating the story to be four or five chapters in total, and then it will be wrapped up in a sequel which focuses on the romance portion.
Hope you all enjoy the start!
Botan ventured further into the depths of the Spirit World's underground prison, her sandaled footsteps echoing loudly against the stone floor and reverberating in the narrow hallway. It was dark, cold and eerie and the ferry-girl was beginning to second-guess her brilliant plan of recruiting the fire demon that resided in the room before her.
It sounded crazy and unfounded, but there was a very firm logic behind it.
After seeing Yusuke fight so hard and risk so much in the battle against Rando, she was a little shaken up. She had admittedly gotten too attached to the Spirit Detective and she couldn't help but worry about him. It wasn't fair that the safety of his world rested on his young shoulders. He was inexperienced. He was out of his depth. And he was not prepared for the many horrors that awaited him.
He needed help. He needed allies.
Koenma was already considering asking Kurama to join the team and Botan was thrilled to hear it. The former fox demon was brilliant, strong and level headed. He would be a great ally. But it wasn't enough.
She thought back to Hiei's fearsome display of strength in the warehouse and the intense struggle that ensued. The fire-demon possessed a fierce power that their little impromptu team desperately needed. And while he had done many deplorable things (breaking into the Spirit World, slaughtering a few of its citizens, kidnapping Keiko and attempting to turn her into a mindless slave - to name a few), something was telling her that there was more to him than met the eye. She saw the way he panicked when he accidentally wounded Kurama – his former ally. Perhaps he could be trusted. Perhaps he had some semblance of honor.
It was a shot in the dark, but if there was even the slightest chance of success, then it would be worth it.
Taking a deep breath, Botan made her way to the furthest cell in the dungeons. It was dark, save for the lit torch burning feebly a few feet away. She was afforded just a sliver of his stoic expression, cast in light and shadow behind the bars.
"Hello there, Hiei," she greeted, putting on her best diplomatic smile.
"What do you want?"
His voice was hoarse from disuse, but even that could not hide the dark undertone of danger scorching each word. Botan's thoughts flashed back to the moment he invaded her mind and she suppressed the shiver that threatened to wrack through her body. Clearing her throat, she kept her voice even as she spoke.
"I have a proposition for you."
There was the rustle of fabric and metal chains as Hiei shifted away. "Not interested."
Botan took a step closer. The fire-demon was dressed in the standard outfit for spirit world inmates: a grey long sleeved shirt with matching pants. There were no pockets and not much room for him to conceal any type of weapon. He lifted his head to glare at her, the venom in his crimson eyes freezing her to the spot.
"What is it?" he spat. "First time you've seen a demon up close?"
"I've seen plenty of demons in my day… and this isn't our first time seeing each other, either," she reminded him.
He raised a dark brow, but his lips remained pressed into a thin frown.
"Don't you remember me?" she prompted.
His sharp gaze swept over her without a hint of recognition. "I don't make it a habit of remembering insignificant people."
"Well, you should most definitely remember me, then. You invaded my mind, after all. And I was the one who kept the effects of the sword of darkness at bay."
"Hn, the messenger ferry-girl," he realized slowly.
"That's right, I'm the—I'm not a messenger!" she objected, before standing a little straighter. "The name's Botan and you're looking at the pilot of the river Styx and assistant to the Spirit Detective."
"I don't see why that is of any importance to me."
"Because this ferry-girl's got a great idea," she grinned proudly. "I'm sure you'll want to get in on it."
"You're wasting your time. Just leave me be."
"But-"
His chains dragged against the stone floor as he pointedly turned away.
Botan glared at the fire-demon's back. Nothing ticked her off more than being discounted and blatantly ignored. Especially when she was only trying to help. Setting both hands on her hips, she slanted her gaze down at him teasingly. "Come now, you were so chatty in the warehouse," she probed. "Cat got your tongue?"
The room's aura turned dark and sinister. She could feel a malevolent energy enshroud her as Hiei's voice echoed inside her head, "No, but if I wasn't behind bars I would slice yours clean off."
Botan threw a hand over her mouth instinctively, letting out a muffled squeal. She'd heard the ogres whispering of how Hiei still had access to his jagan, even with the wards placed around the cell. She thought they were over-exaggerating before, but it was clear that there was some merit to the silly rumors that had spread like wildfire.
"That's right," he taunted aloud, a cruel smile curving his lips as he faced her once more. Although his third eye was mostly concealed by his bags, she could see a faint blue glow fading out. "You should be fearful. Once I'm free from this damn prison, you will be the first one I go after."
"Well," Botan gulped. "Would you look at the time? I've got souls to ferry and reports to write. It was wonderful chatting with you, but I've got to go!"
She would come back another time, preferably when he was in a much more agreeable mood, and maybe with a few talismans of her own.
Hiei was getting desperate. It'd been weeks since he was thrown in the cell and he couldn't sense his sister at all. She was at risk and vulnerable on her own and he needed to know that she was okay.
So, when the ferry-girl returned with a pep in her step and a feeble attempt at confidence lined in her smile, he fixed his eyes on her and resigned himself to his fate.
"I'll listen to your proposition."
Botan froze, cocking her head to the side slightly as she blinked at him. "Really?"
"I'll even consider whatever it is," he went on begrudgingly. "But first, there's something I need you to do, woman."
"Anything!" she replied, ponytail bouncing with the eager nod of her head. "Well, within reason, of course."
Hiei stood up, ignoring the unpleasant tug of his shackles as he stepped towards the bars. "I want you to find someone."
"That shouldn't be too hard. Who is it?"
"An ice maiden."
"An ice maiden?" she repeated through wide eyes. "But you know they're not really supposed to mingle with males. She could get in real trouble if the elders ever found out…" She paused to let out a dramatic sigh, clasping her hands together. "Oh, but true love is worth the risk!"
"It isn't what you think it is," Hiei gritted out.
"Oh, Hiei, you don't have to lie to me," she simpered. "Your secret's safe with me!"
The fire-demon was beginning to regret his choice as she continued to ramble on.
"Do you want me to give her a message? Oh, do you want to write her a love letter? If you dictate, I can jot it down. We can even get her some flowers, or maybe a present-"
"None of that will be necessary," he cut in.
"Of course it is! You shouldn't take your girlfriend for granted, mister."
"She's my sister, you fool," he bit out.
Botan gasped. "Y-your sister? But how could that be…?"
"That's none of your concern."
"You're an imiko," she realized softly. Her expression morphed into one of misplaced sadness. "I never would have guessed…"
"Don't look at me like that, woman. I don't need your pity."
"It's not…" she trailed off, shaking her head and staring back at him without that useless sorrow in her gaze. "Never mind. So, what would you like me to do? Find your sister, and then…?"
"That's all. Find her and make sure she is safe."
"Are you sure you don't want me to relay a message?"
"No."
"But she-"
"-Find her, determine her status and report back to me," he cut in. "That's all I'm asking of you, ferry-girl."
"Wouldn't she be curious about you, too?"
"That would be impossible, considering she doesn't even know who I am."
The bluette opened her mouth to respond, but Hiei was in no mood to explain.
"Don't bother asking why. It isn't your concern."
Botan's expression fell, blue brows crinkling as she frowned. He could see her wrestling with her own meddlesome curiosity and moralities; searching for an answer she could never understand. Eventually, she let out a sigh.
"Oh, alright. Do you know where I can find her?"
"There's a forest in the human world that she frequents on evenings," Hiei revealed, reaching his hand through the bars. Although the seals and talismans around his cell were effective in diminishing his power, he managed to store up just enough for a simple projection. It required contact given his reduced energy, but it would be worth it to ensure his sister's safety. "I'll show it to you."
Botan didn't hesitate at all, slipping her hand into his. It was foolish on her part. He could have killed her right then and there, but he only tapped into the jagan's power to show her the location of the forest instead. It took more effort than he cared to admit and by the time he was done, he found himself winded and drained.
"That's a handy little technique," Botan breathed out.
Hiei ignored the remnant warmth of her touch as it lingered on his palm, instead focusing on the task at hand. "The path to the forest is littered with demons."
She nodded, determination in her eyes. "That's alright, I've been in a few sticky situations before."
The woman disregarded his forewarning far too blithely, but he refrained from calling her out on her stupidity, since she was risking her life for his benefit.
"I'll find her for sure," Botan promised as she turned on her heels and began to leave. "You can count on me, Hiei!"
The cell was quiet in her absence. Hiei sat back down and closed his eyes in an attempt to meditate, but the air still carried faint traces of her unique energy. Try as he might, he couldn't get the scent of fresh meadows out of head nor the thought of cerulean skied hair and gem colored eyes out of his mind.
She was a strange one. He originally wrote her off as nothing more than another mindless peon, but she had the gall to accost him on her own, and even went as far to come back a second time.
He didn't know what she wanted from him, but he gave her his word that he would listen. So he would do that much.
All that was left to do was wait.
.
.
.
Hours later, she returned.
"Mission accomplished!" Botan grinned. She settled in front of his cell in human world clothes and an air of satisfaction surrounding her.
He honestly didn't expect to see her make it back alive, let alone in one piece.
"You didn't tell me Yukina was such a sweetheart," she mentioned.
Hiei bristled in anger. "I never told you to speak to her at all."
Botan remained unaffected. "Well, I intended to stay hidden, but then this nasty demon came out of nowhere and started harassing her. I couldn't very well stay put, now could I? So, I summoned my trusty metal bat-" She paused to brandish the weapon and swing it demonstratively. "-and gave him one clean hit to the back of the skull. He fell to the floor in a heap of limbs and then your sister and I got to talking."
His eyes narrowed as she dematerialized the bat and put a finger to her chin.
"Though, she seemed perfectly capable of protecting herself. I may have jumped the gun a bit," she said sheepishly.
Hiei glared harder.
"But don't worry!" Botan continued, waving her hands defensively. "I didn't say a thing about you, Hiei."
"Hn."
"Anyway, she gave me this for my assistance." The ferry-girl pulled a red barrette out from her pants pocket. "Do you want it? As a memento from your sister?"
Hiei shook his head. "She gave it to you."
"Alright." She returned it to her pocket with a smile. "Well, Yukina appears to be doing well. She's getting by just fine on her own, but she does seem to be a little lonely."
Hiei glanced away stubbornly. Eventually, Yukina would grow tired of her fruitless search for her brother and return to Makai. Until then, his main concern was ensuring her safety.
"You've upheld your end of the bargain," he stated, intent to shift the topic of discussion to far less personal matters. "Tell me what it is you want."
The ferry-girl hesitated, wringing her hands as she averted her gaze. "I have to be honest with you, Hiei. It's a bit of a selfish request."
"Mine was no less selfish," he replied. "Besides, we're past that point now."
"I suppose I should just get out with it then," she decided with a nod. She took a step closer to the bars, meeting his gaze head on. "I was wondering if you might join Yusuke in the fight to protect the human world. He can't bear all this responsibility alone and you're plenty strong."
"I refuse."
"But what if it served your own interests?"
"Protecting the human world could never serve my own interests."
"Don't be so pessimistic, Hiei! Of course, there's something in it for you. You'd be released from prison, under the condition that you temporarily work for the Spirit World."
Hiei's eyes fell to the stone floor as he considered what that would entail.
"Of course, you'd have to carry out duties for the Spirit World in the meantime," Botan continued. "Go off on missions and the like, but that's much better than rotting away in here, don't you think?"
Although he detested the Spirit World and couldn't care less about the safety of the human one, her offer was much more beneficial than wasting away in the pits of this accursed dungeon. There was no need to deliberate. Not when the answer was clear.
"I accept."
Botan clapped her hands together. "Oh, I knew you would! With your strength and experience along with Kurama's intelligence and wit, this team is shaping up to be a surefire success."
"Team?"
"Oh, did I forget to mention it?" she asked. "Kurama agreed to join Yusuke as well. And then there's Kuwabara, who's been training on his own for a while, too."
Hiei's expression darkened.
"Don't be upset," she tried to soothe. "I figured you'd be happy that you have your old buddy Kurama on the team, as well."
"I don't have friends, woman. The fox was a temporary ally, nothing more."
"Well, you'll soon have three new allies."
"Hn."
"And, hey, you've got me too," she stated.
Her smile was warm and inviting. Bright in the dank darkness of the cell. Such kindness was wasted on him, stirring up a strange feeling in his chest, so he looked away.
"When am I to be released?" he asked. He missed the weight of a sword in his hands and he was anxious to rid himself of the restrictions that limited the jagan eye's power.
"I assume things will move pretty quickly, just as soon as I pitch my brilliant plan to Lord Koenma."
Hiei's eyes narrowed angrily. "You haven't received that idiot prince's approval?"
Botan twiddled her thumbs nervously. "Not exactly. Besides, my plan was contingent on your agreement!"
"You're infuriating, woman."
"Hey, I'm only trying to help you out! A little gratitude and support would be nice!"
"You already said that you were doing this for your precious detective," he replied. "This is a mutually beneficial agreement and nothing more."
"But I really do want to help you now!"
Hiei lost some of the fire in his rage as curiosity took over. "Why is that?"
"Because you're not as one-dimensional and dark as you make yourself out to be…"
"And how did you come to that brilliant conclusion?" he challenged.
"It's simple, really," she began, smiling far too proudly for his liking. "You have a heart - Yukina is proof enough of that. You understand the value of friendship and loyalty, otherwise you wouldn't have been concerned about injuring Kurama back in the warehouse. And you upheld our deal today, which means you also understand what honor is. You can't be all that bad with such shining examples under your belt."
"You're giving me far too much credit, ferry-girl. That sort of thinking will only disappoint you in the end."
"I don't think so," she said, shaking her head. "I'm an excellent judge of character, and I can tell that you'll be the perfect addition to the team. You never know, you might find that you actually like it."
Hiei didn't have the energy to tell her that she was wrong. Not when he could already see that it was a useless endeavor.
He'd let her think what she wanted. So long as freedom was within his reach, he didn't really care.
"And that's the gist of it!" Botan said, folding the scroll containing the terms and conditions of Hiei's probation.
The fire-demon stood before her wearing all of his personal effects: a white scarf, a long black cloak, black pants and boots and a white bandana that concealed the jagan eye. While she wasn't expecting to see him beaming or leaping for joy, she certainly didn't expect the news of his freedom to be met with such a severe frown.
"What the matter?" she asked, raising a brow at him. "Were you unhappy with the contract? I managed to soften it up a bit after a little back and forth with Koenma, but if there's still something you're unhappy with-"
"It's not that," he interrupted.
"Then what is it?"
"It's you."
"Me? But I just helped you!"
"That's the problem. You've done more than what was necessary and now I'm in your debt."
Botan blinked in surprise. She supposed she had done an awful lot for the newest member of the team, what with locating his sister, coming up with the brilliant probation plan and even adding in a few clauses that would benefit the fire-demon. But he would be helping them tremendously by joining the team. It was all equal in her eyes.
"My freedom in exchange for my service to the Spirit Detective team is one thing," Hiei began lowly. "But you're the one who came up with the plan and advocated for more than was needed. You have the upper hand here, so state your terms."
"This is ridiculous!" she objected. "We both got something out of your probation, so there's really no need to go any further."
But Hiei just continued to stare at her obstinately, waiting for a more concrete solution. It was admittedly a little jarring to be interacting with the fire-demon without the threat of danger between them or the cell's bars as a barrier. She wasn't used to seeing him under the bright fluorescent lights of the Spirit World, either, but she supposed she needed to get used to it. He wasn't any enemy anymore. He was on their side. An ally. And that's when it hit her.
"Why don't we just start over then? As friends?" she offered. "That way we don't have to constantly keep tally."
Hiei's frown lessened as his features colored in honest and open confusion. It was actually kind of cute, although she was sure he wouldn't hesitate to rid her of her larynx if she ever voiced that thought aloud.
It was quiet within the confines of the small room they sequestered themselves in, but she could still hear the muted sounds of voices and footsteps carrying on as always. The longer Hiei deliberated, the more nervous she became. It was silly, really. Life would go on as normal if Hiei declined, but for some inexplicable reason, she wanted him to accept.
"That's all you want?" he asked eventually.
"Yes."
"Then what do I have to do?"
"Huh?"
"As your friend, woman."
"Oh, um, you can stop by when you feel like it. Strike up a nice conversation once in a while. Maybe hangout if you're up to it," she informed. "If you need advice or a listening ear, I'll be there. If you need anything, really, I can try to help. And theoretically, you should do the same for me."
"Hn."
"But I don't like the purely business-y way that you're going about it," she informed, nose wrinkling in distaste.
"I told you – I'm in your debt."
"And I don't want a friendship formed from or based on duty."
"Then we're at a moot point because that's exactly what this is."
"Alright, how about we spend the day together and see where that leads us," she tried.
"What purpose would that serve?"
"Maybe you'll realize that you like me enough to consider me as a friend without any former stipulations weighing you down."
"I doubt that."
"You never know; everybody needs someone in their corner."
"I don't."
"You're all alone in an unfamiliar world. You definitely do."
"I don't need anyone to get by, least of all a ferry-girl."
"That's a silly thing to say to someone you're already indebted to, isn't it?"
Irritation and anger flashed through his expression, but he had no rebuttal. Botan's gaze softened as she took a careful step closer.
"Just give it an honest try," she urged. "Open yourself up to the thought of letting someone else in. If you really can't stomach the thought of being my friend by the day's end, then that's it. I relinquish you from this burden and your debt is considered paid. Does that sound fair?"
"Fine," he agreed.
.
.
.
After changing into a more comfortable kimono, Botan decided to head to neutral ground: the human world. They settled down on opposite ends of a park bench, the atmosphere around them as awkward as it was heavy. Botan twisted a lock of hair around her finger as she mulled over the next steps. She had no idea what she and Hiei could do together. She knew nothing about him.
"Let's get this over with," Hiei said, pulling her from her thoughts.
"Alright," she agreed. "Why don't you tell me about yourself… your likes, dislikes…?"
Hiei looked off into the distance and crossed his arms over his chest. it was the golden hour and the sun colored his face in warm tones as he spoke. "I hate most things. There aren't many that I can stand. I value strength and that is what matters most."
"What about Yukina? Doesn't she rank high on your list of importance?"
Hiei's mouth tightened as he pressed his lips into a firm line.
"We can talk about her, if you want," Botan encouraged. "That's what friends do, after all."
"I'd rather not have you prying into my life, ferry-girl."
"So tight-lipped!"
"You've offered nothing about yourself, either," he accused, red eyes snapping back to meet her gaze.
"There's not much to say, honestly. I have no family, although I suppose I consider everyone in the Spirit World to be my family in some way or fashion. My job is my entire life. I'm bound to my duties to the Spirit World, but despite that, my days are never boring or dull. Plus, I get to meet many interesting souls along the way."
Hiei remained wholly unimpressed. "You sound far too satisfied for someone living a life of servitude."
"It's not like I don't have any freedom or agency of my own. I certainly wouldn't be sitting here with you if that were the case."
"You're an outlier," he remarked. "So I've noticed."
"Koenma's not like his father and the rest of the Spirit World. He sees things differently. Just as I do," she declared. "And, sure, there are bound to be bad apples in every world, but that doesn't mean we can't find common ground and live together peacefully."
"It's quixotic and foolish of you to ignore centuries of history in favor of a rose-tinted world."
"And it's ignorant and intolerant of you to assume that souls and the times can't change," she argued. "Why, look at us. We're getting along just fine, aren't we?"
Crimson eyes narrowed suspiciously under the dwindling rays of daylight. "You call this getting along?"
"Well, you haven't threatened to burn me to a crisp yet. And I haven't had to introduce you to my metal bat, either."
He let out a scoff, but it wasn't at all derisive. In fact, his features loosened from their stoic guard, just the slightest bit. "You're a strange woman."
"How kind of you to notice," she returned with a playful wink.
They fell into another lapse of silence, but this time, it wasn't at all strained or awkward. The fire-demon seemed to be relaxing in small increments: the line of his shoulders falling a few centimeters, his posture less guarded as his back rested against the bench and his arms loose at his sides. It was a beautiful day, especially now that the park was quieting down as the sun set in the horizon. Botan was content to let the lull wash over them for a while, until Hiei's stomach grumbled.
"There's a street cart just up ahead. How about we get something to eat?" she offered, pulling out some bills from the large sleeves of her yellow kimono. "My treat~"
Hiei accepted.
They were both halfway through their steaming bowls of gyudon by the time the fire-demon spoke again. "Tell me what's happened since I've been in the cell."
Botan perked up, pleasantly surprised that he initiated conversation and eager to fill him in on all the details. She smiled at him from underneath the cart's red and gold lanterns as she set her chopsticks down. "It's been a doozy of a ride. Let's see, where to begin…"
Hiei turned his eyes upwards. The sun had long since set, the pink sky faded into a wash of blue and a scatter of stars. His stomach was pleasantly filled. The fresh air and cool breeze were calming. And, most importantly, freedom lay ahead.
The ferry-girl made all of this possible for him; the least he could do was offer up a watered down version of his fealty in return. Although she was overly talkative, cheerful and meddling, he could overlook those qualities in light of all that he would be gaining. The woman was more knowledgeable than he originally gave her credit for, well-versed in not only the Spirit World, but in the machinations of the human world as well. She held Koenma's trust and favor. And she was blindly trusting. It couldn't hurt to have an advocate like her on his side. Besides, this wouldn't last forever. One day, he'd find a way to return home and then he'd never have to think twice about the human or spirit world.
"It's time for me to head back," Botan announced, breaking the silence between them. Amethyst eyes were cast on him expectantly, their colors shaded purple under the dark night sky. "So, have you come to a decision?"
As he stared back at the unassuming ferry-girl, he realized that he could reject her offer of friendship and still reap the benefits of their allied ship. The woman was a bleeding heart, he had no doubt that she would continue to aid him without much need for reciprocation on his part. He could walk away right now without losing anything at all.
But his damned honor code refused to let that stand. He wouldn't be able to ignore the disparity that would eventually arise between them. He wouldn't be able to look away from the heavy scales of her kindness and generosity as he continued to take more than he gave. If mere camaraderie was all she wanted, then he supposed he could grant her that much.
There were worse things he could do than befriend a citizen of the Spirit World, after all.
"I'll do it," he decided. "I'll be your friend."
And so it begins! Consider dropping a review and letting me know your thoughts! See ya in the next chapter.