Disclaimer: I don't own YYH or the characters

My favorite holiday is here, so here's a little story in honor of it. Happy Halloween!


Botan returned to her Human World apartment after a long day of ferrying souls. As she hummed a happy tune, she made her oar disappear after she flew into her open window. She looked around the place and grinned. It was her first Halloween in Human World, and she was going to make the most of it.

Her place looked like Halloween had thrown up there. Pumpkins, bedsheet ghosts, and skeletons were everywhere with many different colored spooky lights. She flipped the switch on her black bat lantern, which revealed green skeletons inside, and plugged in the strands of pumpkin and ghost lights. There were also many creepy candleholders—a raven sitting in a skeleton hand and a tart warmer that was a light up haunted house with eerie music and sound effects, like creaking doors. Her favorite was the spider web candleholder that she put in front of a mirror to reflect the dancing flame.

She decided to heat cider on the stove and added the mulling. She stirred in some apples slices she cut up, and then set it to simmer for a while. Afterwards, she got her orange bowl, filled it with candy, and set it next to the door. A purple bowl of candy was placed on the couch. That one was for her.

Surprisingly, the sky darkened fast with thick, black clouds, and rain barreled down on the streets. Botan frowned as she looked at the window. The wind blew the colored leaves through the streets. Lightning crashed and Botan sighed. It was definitely the creepiest weather for Halloween night, but now it seemed there wouldn't be many out to trick-or-treat. Well, it didn't need to ruin her night. She found a store with all those old horror movies. "Welp, time to make some popcorn."

Botan got herself settled in. She ate popcorn and candy and drank hot cider while she looked out the window from time to time and then returned her attention to the pathetically made monster movie. To be honest, she was content with this, even if she didn't get a million trick-or-treaters this first year. Everything was peaceful.

That was until the lights cut out.

Botan froze when the screen went dark. Her lamps all went out which left the room to be illuminated solely by battery powered Halloween lights and the few candles she had. There was nothing really bright in the room. Well, this still wasn't the worst that could have happened. It wasn't like a demon was going to attack her while she was safe in her apartment.

Again, she spoke too soon…somewhat.

"Is the eeriness of this room an invitation," a deep voice spoke. Botan's mouth went dry, her mouth open as she tried to take in a deep breath before she shrieked and launched herself off the couch. She nearly knocked down one of the flaming candles, though it was caught with ease. The small flame illuminated the face of her 'attacker'.

"Hiei?"

The fire demon snickered at the ferry girl's reaction. Sure, he came in through the window in one of the rooms. When he saw the storm clouds, he knew he would need to seek shelter for the night. He returned to the Spirit World safe house that had basically become Botan's second home since none of the other ferry girls lingered in Human World. Botan was the only one who, after ferrying, would explore in her spirit form. She wanted to learn all about this different world. Unlike Hiei. He could care less about it.

The fire demon entered through the window of the room where he resided during storms, but he was reluctant to make his presence known. At the time, he realized that the woman was not there. She was still ferrying souls, so he decided to get some much needed rest. He awoke when he heard her enter the apartment. He still kept the fact that he was there a secret, and he stealthily went to see what she was doing.

He heard noise in the kitchen and watched her stir the pot of cider. He was taken by the sweet aroma it produced. Botan went about her business without sensing his eyes on her, a thought that brought a smirk to his face. He wanted to wait for an opportune time to reveal himself and thought these so called 'monster movies' would give him a good entrance.

They were completely droll and lacked any amount of horror. It made Hiei feel irritation with human entertainment once again, but then the lightning struck once again, and the power went out. He saw Botan tense and felt completely amused that the darkness heightened her senses and fear. As he came up from behind her, saw her reaction, it had been the best entertainment that he had had for months.

Botan finally relaxed as Hiei set the candle back on the coffee table. She deadpanned; her eyes grew bored. "You know, you could have warned me you were coming," she stated.

Hiei ignored her and looked at the small flames. "Seriously, woman. I didn't think you were the type to hold a séance on this night of all nights. You know there are both ghosts and demons out there looking to cause trouble."

"It's not a séance," Botan huffed indignantly and crossed her arms over her chest. "They're just Halloween decorations, not a signal."

The fire demon scoffed, "There's a difference?"

"There is," the ferry girl informed him. "I enjoy the festivities and the less scary aspects of Halloween. I see the real, scary stuff as part of my work. I wouldn't be inviting it into my home. You went ahead and made it downright frightening."

Hiei actually laughed at that. "The lights going out had nothing to do with me. Trying to get a reaction out of you, that was all me."

"Yeah, I know," she grumbled. "Well, now that you're here, would you like some hot cider?"

"That brew you made?" Hiei questioned. "Hn. And yet you say you aren't a witch."

Botan sighed. "It's not a brew. It's apple cider heated with cinnamon and other spices. It's really quite delicious. I went over to Kurama's home one afternoon for a visit and he introduced me to it. You should try some. There's mugs in the cabinet and a ladle in the pot."

"Hn," Hiei scoffed. He walked over to the kitchen and decided to try some. Although he didn't think he'd really like it, he humored the woman. The fire demon would have made the ferry girl retrieve him a cup, but he was used to doing things on his own. It wasn't rocket science to put liquid into any sort of drinking apparatus.

Hiei returned to the couch to find Botan staring into the candlelight as she drank her drink. He took a sip of it and relished in the hot liquid warming his insides. He was a fire demon and he loved anything hot. The year Kurama made him taste that hot chocolate beverage was how he found that out. The cider was hardly any different save the taste, and it was refreshing. Hiei downed the whole mug in one gulp making Botan's eyes widen. "What?" he demanded.

"Nothing," Botan stated. "Just I've never seen someone down the whole thing, though it makes sense. It won't burn your mouth or anything else seeing at you're a fire demon."

Hiei shrugged and ate the popped corn. He found the texture strange, but the snack overall fine. The two of them sat in silence as the storm raged outside. "Hey," Botan spoke out after twenty minutes of stale silence. "I have an idea. Why don't we play truth or dare until the power comes back on."

"What?" Hiei questioned. "Is that some Spirit World policy of interrogation?"

"No, silly. It's a human game," Botan explained. "We ask truth or dare and then the person picks one. If you pick truth, you answer a personal question, and if you pick dare you have to do whatever the other person asks of you. It's fun."

"Your definition of fun is forcing a person to tell something about themselves they'd like to take to the grave or force a person to bend to you will," Hiei deadpanned. "Maybe you are meant for this holiday. I'll pass. I would never tell you anything about myself that I do not wish to share, nor would I willingly go along with anything you say unless it served my own interests."

Botan frowned and then threw herself back against the couch. "Party pooper. I just can't stand the silence. I need to hear noise."

"Why?" Hiei questioned, but Botan didn't answer. Instead, she smirked.

"If you really want to know," she crooned, "then you'll have to play the game. I'll even pick truth so I have to answer the question."

Hiei glowered at the ferry girl, but he actually was pretty curious as to why she needed noise. "Fine, I'll play. Answer."

Botan offered him a victorious smile. "I need noise because in Spirit World, the ferry girl quarters are so quiet, it's like nothing exists around me and it feels eerie. Walking down that silent hallway sometimes gives me the creeps."

Hiei's eyes narrowed into slits. "You are literally death and yet a silent hallway is creepy…"

"I'm not death, Hiei," Botan scoffed. "I'm just a ferry girl. We guide the dead, but we have no control over someone's life."

That was actually useful information, and Hiei figured he could get a lot out of the ferry girl under the pretense of this 'game'. "Your turn, onna."

"Uh, okay," Botan said. "Truth or dare, Hiei?"

Hiei really had no desire to disclose anything personal to Botan, and he doubted she could really do much damage to him with whatever she demanded. "Dare."

"That actually doesn't surprise me," Botan joked. "Alright, what can I make you do?" She thought about it, looking around the room when she spotted her second bowl for candy by the door. "I dare you to eat that entire bowl of candy by the end of the night."

Hiei's mouth gaped at the ridiculousness of the challenge. He grunted, "I overestimated you. That is a pathetic challenge and will be done with ease."

"I know," Botan agreed, "but I just don't want to have so much leftover candy here, and this way you can't say 'no'."

The fire demon's eyes narrowed as he got up to grab the bowl, then returned to the couch and sat Indian style with the bowl in his lap. He grabbed one of candies, unwrapped it, and shoved it in his mouth. He wouldn't admit this, but he actually found it quite tasty. "Whatever. Truth or dare, onna."

Botan understood—especially after Hiei's comment—that if she chose dare, it wouldn't end well for her. She had to pick truth. Besides, there was nothing Hiei could ask that would be as damaging. She was an open book to most people, and he already knew a little about her, so it was her safest option. "Truth."

"Why did Koenma choose you to be the spirit detective's assistant," he voiced.

The woman was surprised by the question but answered it anyway. "Oh, well, he thought it would be best if Yusuke had to work with someone he already knew. Since I was the ferry girl who aided him during his ordeal, we spent a lot of time together. That, and because of my competence as his chief ferry girl. I'm able to balance it all, so that was another point in my favor."

Hiei nodded and then stated, "Dare," not even letting Botan ask again.

"Alright," she said as she put her finger to her chin. She thought of something, then smiled and challenged, "I dare you to dance the hokey pokey."

"The what?"

"Oh, it's easy," Botan said as she got up and showed Hiei the dance he would have to perform.

Hiei glared at the ferry girl. "I will not be doing that."

"Then it looks like I win already," she teased, and that prompted Hiei to stand up and humiliate himself.

Out of anger—and knowing she'd pick truth—Hiei decided to get the answer to the question he always wanted to know. "Why did you come to me in the prison?" he snapped.

Botan's eyes grew wide as she sighed. "I wanted to know why you did what you did, that's all."

Hiei's angered expression never faltered. "You had to know I'd never tell someone like you. There's nothing to say."

"But still, I want to know why," Botan explained. "There was nothing for you to gain. Even if you're a thief by trade, going after Spirit World was a huge risk. Surely there could have been another way to make a name for yourself."

"It wasn't to make a name for myself," Hiei countered.

"Then why? Because now I'm even more confused."

She wouldn't let this go, and Hiei needed to discourage her from asking deeper, more personal questions. He needed her to pick dare, to punish her. That way, she would drop this ridiculous game. "I'll pick truth and answer, but only if you pick dare next." Botan, ever curious, nodded beside herself and agreed to Hiei's will. "I needed to find Yukina," he stated darkly. "I couldn't see her with the Jagan anymore. I needed more eyes to search for her. I never thought that human bastard…"

Hiei looked to Botan who was listening intently. She wore an empathetic smile and then nodded, accepting his answer. "That sounds more like you," she stated. "Though, I wonder… If you care about your sister so much, why don't you want her to know?"

"She's better off not knowing," he answered curtly.

"I disagree," Botan replied, "but you answered my question. So…what do you want me to do?"

That was a good question. What would be the worst thing he could make her do? She usually took everything with grace, even his threats for she wouldn't have allowed him to stay if she feared them. No, it had to be something horrible, something a pure ferry girl like her would never wish to do. Perhaps it would be so vile she would drop this pathetic game all together and he'd be in the clear.

Finally, the answer came to him and he smirked wickedly. "Kiss me."

Botan was caught completely off-guard by that, her eyes wide as saucers as she searched his amused orbs questioningly. "Repeat that," she requested.

Hiei felt incredibly confident when he took in her reaction. "Kiss me," he ordered again.

It was taboo for Spirit World officials to fraternize with demons. The fact that he and Kurama were working with them right now was highly controversial. Asking one of its purest forms to kiss him, a demon and Forbidden Child, was his best chance at ending the game. He knew she wouldn't go for it.

"Well…okay then…"

Hiei's expression faltered as her nervous and uncertain voice reached him. Did she just agree? Now, Hiei was reeling, unprepared by her acceptance. There was no way she'd do it. Her agreement had to be her saving face.

So, when she slowly moved his way on the couch, Hiei was paralyzed.

He didn't know what to do. The fire demon never expected Botan to agree, and now her close proximity made him uncomfortable. Still, it was his challenge, and he had to see it through. Though, when Botan got close enough, she closed her eyes and puckered her lips. That was Hiei's chance to escape.

Botan leaned forward only to meet nothingness and fall over on the couch. The slam of a door made her jump, and Botan realized that Hiei retreated for the night. His reaction confused her, as did his challenge. What made him ask that of her in the first place? She wasn't against doing it, but Hiei seemed so smug over something. The ferry girl didn't ever think she'd understand the temperamental fire demon.

The lights flickered back on, and the television returned to her monster movie before she could linger on her thoughts much longer. She released a heavy sigh and tried not to focus on the fact that she nearly kissed her coworker and friend. Yes, that was how she saw Hiei. She didn't see him as some thief or murderer. She didn't see him as a felon who was forced to help them. It didn't mean she didn't know what he was capable of, and that frightened her sometimes, but if he wanted to hurt her he would have done so by now. He wouldn't have talked to her about their recurrent dreams. He wouldn't have indulged her in her game that night.

He wouldn't have asked her to kiss him.

Well, even if she couldn't stop thinking about it, she could still celebrate the Halloween festivities with little fear of any unwanted demon guests. If that were to happen, Hiei would protect her. He hadn't given her any reason to think he wouldn't, even if the two of them were total opposites.