Disclaimer: I don't own YYH or the characters.

First little ficlet since Hiei x Botan week at the beginning of the year. Hope you enjoy it!


Hiei couldn't even think of a time he had ever felt so insulted, and he'd been tossed from the glacial island in the sky to his death below as a baby and called a cursed one.

The ferry girl was completely oblivious to his anger. It was evident in the way she just continued smiling and bouncing around so happily during what was supposed to be one of their 'dates', a human concept Hiei suffered through for her benefit.

Their day had been fine until a wretched male peon of this accursed, weak species approached Botan and solicited her when she was clearly with another man.

"Hey, babe," the guy greeted, laying the obnoxious charm on very thickly. "What's a lovely lady like yourself doing on this fine day?"

Hiei was about to curse the fool out, but then he took in Botan's expression. She put on a smile, prepared to be friendly, even to this bastard who dared to flirt with her in front of him.

"I'm out with my boyfriend," she emphasized. Hiei grunted in acceptance. At least she had the decency to mention their connection, though Hiei truly hated that human term. What they were ran so much deeper than that.

The guy took Botan's hand, and Hiei's demon energy flared as his appearance became that of raised hackles. If Hiei could have burned the human to cinders without getting himself imprisoned in Spirit World, he would have.

"That's real funny, babe," the guy laughed. "You and this small fry? I could take him."

Hiei growled, his anger apparent. It was not surprising that someone would comment on his height. Even if he'd grown some inches over the last couple years, he was still shorter than most, a factor that usually worked in his favor when his enemies underestimated him due to stature alone. This fool…Hiei desperately wanted to kill him.

The fire demon probably would have let it go eventually, wouldn't have cared that some human filth degraded him…if it wasn't for the fact that Botan laughed.

She actually laughed.

Botan covered her mouth with one hand to conceal her insulting giggles before she withdrew her other hand from the human. "You should run along now," she kindly warned. She then took Hiei's hand and seemed surprised when he pulled away from her. How dare she try to take his hand after she made a mockery of him?

They continued to walk in silence, and when they reached the apartment Botan resided in when she stayed in Human World, Botan turned to regard Hiei. The smile she wore throughout the day was gone, and Hiei realized that maybe she wasn't so oblivious after all.

"Are you all right?" she asked, her voice tinted with concern. Hiei glared at her. Maybe she was how he originally thought.

"What does it matter?" he spat. "Regretting I didn't leave you with that oaf? Maybe he would have been better company."

Botan sighed. She didn't understand why Hiei was being so combative. It wasn't her fault the guy chose her to flirt with. "I'm sorry, but I can't help who tries to ask me out. He was in the wrong and shouldn't have done that with you right there."

Hiei gawped at her before he sneered. "That's what you think I'm angry about?" His hiss was full of fury, and he actually thought he caught a glimmer of fear in the woman's eyes.

"It isn't?" Well…maybe fear wasn't the right word. "But I thought—"

"You laughed over the comment about my height!"

Botan looked completely taken aback, but then her confusion shifted to a softness Hiei didn't expect to see. "I guess we both had a bit of a misunderstanding," Botan replied, and another light giggle escaped her. "I wasn't laughing about that. I was laughing about the part where he said he could take you. We both know he would have lost before the fight even started."

It was Hiei's turn to be stupefied, and he was the one who felt the fool.

"In any case," her cheerful voice cut through Hiei's thoughts. She was so close to him, and Hiei flinched. How had he not registered her for that moment? The ferry girl leaned down and planted a gentle yet long kiss on the fire demon's cheek. "I prefer you just. like. this."

His heartbeat blipped over her words, a reaction that in the past he would have berated himself for experiencing. Now, it seemed like all he needed to quell the last shreds of anger over the misunderstanding earlier.

"Are you staying tonight?" Botan asked, though they both knew it was an invitation.

He captured her lips in a rough and hungry kiss. What do you think, woman?

It didn't surprise him when he felt Botan smile into the kiss.