Disclaimer: I don't own YYH or the characters

So, school and life got in the way of the biweekly challenge. However, I'm pushing forward and going back to a couple weeks ago for Prompt #3.

Prompt: Request

Hiei hated Wednesdays at the apartment complex. Everyone seemed to choose that day as laundry day. As it was Hiei's only free day in the week, it was his laundry day too. He hated how crowded the laundry room would get, partly because he didn't want to interact with other people and partly because he hated crowds. Because of this, it was his habit to wait until ten at night to wash his clothes. At that time, the building—and all the surrounding buildings—seemed practically abandoned. It seemed people were smart enough not to venture out too late.

On this side of the city, Tarukane's men ruled the evening streets. It was no secret that crime increased around this time. Hiei could attest to it; he took part in various crimes often enough. The latest heist was breaking into the office of one of Tarukane's competitors and getting information the kingpin could use to blackmail his 'associate'. Wandering alone at night was also a risk considering Tarukane allegedly had a lot of stake in the human trafficking business. At least the idiots in the complex valued their safety.

"Oh fiddlesticks."

Crimson eyes narrowed. Except for one…

Hiei just walked out into the hall with his bag of clothes when he heard the mildly aggravated yet still soft exclamation of his neighbor. The blue-haired woman had a couple of paper shopping bags in her arms. He watched her struggle to balance the bags on her body as she tried to reach down for the keys she evidently dropped.

That woman, Hiei mentally scoffed. It was an irritatingly pathetic sight to behold, so Hiei put them both out of their misery and picked up her keys. He shoved them into her hand, then threw his laundry bag over his shoulder and moved to walk away.

"Thank you, Hiei…"

The surprised softness in Botan's voice caused Hiei to pause. He turned back to her and caught her wide-eyed expression. She appeared completely baffled. Hiei couldn't blame her. The two of them hadn't really interacted much since the day he moved in three months ago. It wasn't for lack of trying on Botan's part. A few times, Hiei heard a knock on the door and ignored it. After an ample amount of time passed from the moment he heard her pad away, he'd open the door only to find a tray of food or baked goods that he knew had to come from her.

Hiei was confused by her persistence and consideration for a practical stranger. Still, funds were tight, even working for Tarukane. He wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

"What are you doing out so late?" Hiei questioned, genuinely curious about the woman's apparent lack of self-preservation. "What convenience store is even open at this hour, for that manner?"

Botan smiled; Hiei was uncertain as to why. "I get off of work around nine on Wednesdays, and I needed groceries," she explained. "There's a market two blocks away that closes late."

Hiei's brow furrowed. He knew the place. The owner was not afraid of Tarukane's people, bold and cunning in his own right. Hiei scoffed derisively, turned away again, but was intent on leaving Botan with a warning. "You shouldn't be out on these streets alone at night. Save shopping for your day off."

The man was about to leave her, but Botan's voice froze him again. "Oh, I'm not worried," Botan remarked. Hiei faced her again to see her wave the warning off. "It's not the first time I've had to shop late, plus I think I'm pretty tough at times."

Hiei's eyes narrowed into slits. No, she wasn't tough, and the fact that she thought herself as such was as laughable as it was delusional. His jaw ticked in irritation. If the woman wouldn't take sound advice, then she deserved whatever fate might befall her. "Whatever," he huffed.

As Hiei was about to walk away for a third time, Botan asked, "Would you like to come inside? I haven't eaten yet, so I was going to make dinner."

Hiei held up his laundry bag. "Can't."

Botan didn't seem bothered by his rejection. Instead, she just kept pushing. "Oh come on," she sang. "You know you want to. Besides, I make the best grilled cheese. Consider it a 'thank you' for stopping to help me."

If Botan considered feeding Hiei tonight a 'thank you', Hiei wondered what all the other times were for. This woman was too kind-hearted and innocent. The city was going to chew her up and spit her out. It was a wonder she made it home in one piece or that she hadn't been targeted by scum.

"I could always make it and bring it down to the laundry room for you."

A heavy sigh escaped Hiei. He shook his head and met Botan's gaze. "You're not going to let this go, are you?"

"Nope!" the blue-haired woman chimed proudly. "Besides, food always tastes better when shared with a buddy."

One of Hiei's brows rose. His neighbor really was delusional if she thought they were 'buddies'. "You're a strange woman." Botan merely smiled in response and unlocked her door to let them inside.

Hiei felt very out of place in Botan's apartment. She left him in the living room while she went to put away her groceries. Kind as always, the woman told him to sit down and make himself comfortable. She even offered him the use of her T.V. Hiei couldn't even remember the last time he had a set or what channels even existed anymore.

When Botan left Hiei, he didn't take her up on her offer. Instead, he stood awkwardly in the middle of her living room wondering what the hell he'd been thinking when he accepted her invitation. He knew she'd make good on her threat to hunt him down and feed him, sure, but he knew the fundamental fact of the matter.

I shouldn't be here.

The world Hiei was part of was dark, dangerous, and isolated. It suited him, and he spared no apologies or thought on the moral repercussions. He couldn't afford to. He also felt no need to connect with any other individual in any sense. There was only one person in Hiei's life he needed to protect—his sister, Yukina—and that was the extent of their relationship. Yukina had already seen her fair share of pain. Even so, Hiei knew she was protected from his chosen path. She had others to look out for her and lived on the more posh, and safer, side of the city, so he kept his distance. It was for the best.

With those thoughts shuffling through his head, Hiei couldn't figure out what it was about his neighbor that disarmed him enough that he'd make this poor decision. Hiei never paid women any mind except for the occasional one-night romp. Even then, he rarely sought out a woman or brought any home to fulfill unmet needs. His drive, determination, and focus were all he needed. Other people, even strangers, were a hindrance.

"I just want to make sure," he heard Botan call from the kitchen. "You aren't allergic to onions, are you?"

Hiei's face scrunched up in apprehension. Onions?

Now curious, Hiei let his arms fall from their crossed position and strode into Botan's kitchen. She stood in front of a chopping board. The woman chopped up some fresh herbs and then pulled out a red onion. As if sensing his silent presence, Botan tilted her head and give to a sideward glance and smile. "Well, I should ask if you're allergic to onions, chives, parsley, garlic, or mayo. I also use a balsamic glaze."

"For grilled cheese?" Hiei blurted out, his voice incredulous.

Botan laughed lightly. "I like to get creative. Are you good with all the ingredients?"

She began to chop the onion as if expecting Hiei to agree. Truth be told, he didn't really care. Food was food. He had no allergies. He wasn't that picky either considering the swill he used to find when he lived on the streets. "I don't care what you do," Hiei huffed as he crossed his arms again and leaned against the counter. He noticed Botan's demure grin and rolled his eyes. It didn't take much to please this woman, did it? He stood by his observation that she'd get chewed up by this world.

Hiei observed her movements. The way she chopped and cooked reminded him of a professional. She took the red onion and tossed them into a frying pan. She added the balsamic glaze and stirred it around a few minutes before it sizzled and bubbled. She reduced her heat and let it simmer for a bit. Meanwhile, she took her herbs and garlic power and added it to a modest amount of mayo. Botan vigorously stirred the mixture and then spread some on a slice of rye bread. Hiei's brows furrowed. Creativity was one thing, but this all seemed planned, like she knew this recipe by heart.

Botan turned off the heat and gently scooped the red onion out of the pan and placed it on the other slices of bread. She spread it evenly, then drizzled more balsamic glaze over the onions, and added shredded mozzarella over the onions. She took the slices that contained the herb mixture and covered the slices with the cheese and onions. Then, she added oil to the pan and cooked their sandwiches one by one.

When she was finished, she put their sandwiches on some plates and cut them. With a smile on her face, she silently handed Hiei his plate and went to sit down at her table. Hiei followed suit, but he cast the woman a questioning glance when she didn't pick up her sandwich and begin to eat. Instead, she stared at him, watching and waiting for something. He realized that the woman was going to keep her gaze on him until he tried her handiwork. The way she looked at him was unsettling to Hiei, so he decided to give Botan what she wanted and tasted the damn sandwich.

The damn, really good sandwich.

Hiei was shocked by the combination of flavors. He'd never tasted anything like it. In every bite, a different facet hit him. There was a sweetness to it, a crisp crunch from the onions, and a tangy taste that came from the vinegar of the glaze. Even her choice of bread complimented the sandwich, and that didn't even cover the nostalgic taste of the underlying grilled cheese.

The dark-haired man looked to his neighbor, bafflement plastered all over his face. Botan returned his gaze with a knowing arrogance. She knew how amazing and delicious it was, and it satisfied her to have received a reaction from him. There wasn't even any way he could play off his reaction with indifference.

Hiei cleared his throat and put the sandwich back down on the plate. "It's good," he curtly stated. "You a chef?" It would explain her late-night hours.

Botan blushed at that, but the smile never left her face even when she shook her head. "Oh no, nothing of the sort. Not yet anyway," she replied. "I'd like to open up my own place one day, but right now I work at a tearoom on Fifth."

Hiei grunted and resumed eating the sandwich. Inside, though, his irritation grew. That was in the heart of criminal territory, and once again he was amazed by this woman's oblivious nature and lack of self-preservation. It was already dangerous for her to be walking the streets this late at night. It was even more ridiculous that she'd reveal to him the exact location of her job.

"You shouldn't tell just anyone that," he warned. Especially around here.

But Botan wasn't bothered. "You aren't 'just anyone'. You're my neighbor," she chimed. "Anyway, what do you think?"

At that question, Hiei's brusque demeanor returned. "That's none of your business," he replied bitterly.

Botan bit the inside of her cheek and pouted. "You're no fun."

Hiei snickered at that. "You'd do well to remember that the next time you try misplacing your kindness. I don't need it."

He expected Botan to get upset and leave him be. He expected her to snap back at him. What he didn't expect was Botan's warm and sincere words. "Everyone needs a little kindness. Even those who don't think they do. In fact, they're the ones who need it more."

"Tch," Hiei sputtered. He didn't know how to respond to Botan's optimistic notion. His world was full of darkness. He'd rarely ever experienced kindness. When he did, he could admit he didn't know what to do with it. He knew even less what to do with it now when he had a mission to fulfill. All he could say to dissuade her was, "Well, I don't."

Once again, Botan smiled her impish, cat-like smile. It again felt like Hiei was missing something she could clearly see. Well, it didn't matter. He finished his meal, decided he overstayed his welcome, and got up from the table to leave the apartment. Hiei stopped by the front door to pick up his laundry bag.

"I'm glad you liked the food," Botan's voice rang. The soft dulcet caused inexplicable sensations in Hiei's stomach. "And have a good night, Hiei."

Hiei didn't know how Botan learned his name, nor who would have told her. Then, he recalled the time he found a piece of junk mail slipped under his door. It must have come from the woman, and he mentally cursed the unobservant mailman as he left without a word.

It had been weeks since Hiei allowed Botan to feed him that night, and the man still felt tense and rigid. It was a mistake that he had no intention of repeating. Yet, despite his best efforts to put Botan off, she came around more and more often. She even had the audacity to ask Hiei if she wanted him to do his laundry for him on her day off since she kept him too late on his laundry night. Obviously, Hiei refused the assistance, and then Botan handed him another tray of food.

Eventually curiosity got the better of him as to where all this food was coming from. Some was purely edible, and that was it, so he knew she couldn't be the chef. After having her grilled cheese the other night, subpar food didn't seem to be Botan's style. Eventually Botan confided in him that she tried to bring home the leftovers from the tearoom. Most of the food was made fresh, but there were some items that were prepackaged and cooked ahead of time. Botan felt it was a shame to waste it, so she brought it home when there were full trays leftover.

Even though Botan always seemed to have her head in the clouds—an attitude Hiei completely detested normally—there was just something about her that made her seem less depthless than he originally thought. It wasn't just that she was kind to him. Hiei really didn't care about those sentiments. Now that he interacted with her, though, he noticed her around a lot more. On his way out the previous night, he saw her enter the lobby. She held the door open for a little old lady and carried the elderly woman's groceries up the stairs to her apartment. Another morning, as Hiei returned from a late-night loot, he saw Botan comforting a little boy whose ball popped. She then helped him cross the street to join his friends at the bus stop. The woman then waited with the children and made sure they all got on the bus safely. Moments like that one moved Hiei, though he didn't display those sentiments externally. He needed to force down the tragic thoughts of his past whenever he saw Botan with children. Botan wasn't just a naïve or reckless woman. She was a true-blue, salt-of-the-earth type, one that unknowingly made an impact. That alone terrified Hiei.

If Botan hadn't been targeted by Tarukane or his men already, one day she could be. It made it more imperative for Hiei to keep his distance. He was an asshole, but he would never drag any woman into Tarukane's orbit, even accidentally. From this point on, Hiei needed to ignore Botan completely, even if it left her feeling dejected. It would be for her own safety.

"I'd like a pumpkin mocha with milk and two sugars, please."

Hiei muttered a curse under his breath. He entered a small café to grab a coffee before he needed to meet with Zeru to go over the details of a new assignment. It was a complete coincidence that Botan happened to show up here as well.

The criminal tried to blend into the crowd, but Botan still managed to find him. She waved at him and smiled as she called out to him. "Hey, Hiei! Good morning!"

Hiei's head dropped down; his shoulders rose as he tried to hide within himself. Multiple pairs of eyes were on him, strangers observing his embarrassment and frustration. Not wanting to be the center of attention, Hiei walked up to the counter and regarded Botan. To make matters worse, she wasn't the only familiar face. Hiei's attention shifted to the barista.

The man was a thin, lanky man with slate-blue hair. Hiei recognized the guy from his past run-ins with local law enforcement. It was Police Chief Koenma's babbling assistant, Jorge if he recalled correctly. He seemed pretty chummy with Botan, but Hiei wondered how. This wasn't Jorge's usual gig. He must be undercover in this local coffee shop. How he knew Botan was a mystery, one that Hiei didn't care to know.

"H-Hiei?" Jorge nervously murmured. His head turned back-and-forth between the two customers, and then his gaze met Hiei's unforgiving eyes.

Hiei had his brush with the law many times. He'd done his time, but he always found himself back at the station for one reason or another. This officer knew Hiei's track record. Still, Hiei didn't think Koenma's lackey to be so foolish as to draw attention to their less than stellar relationship. Someone as curious as Botan would pick up on the tension.

"Do you guys know each other?" Botan inquired, as Hiei knew she would.

The two men replied 'no' in unison, although Hiei's was monotonous and bitter whereas Jorge's voice pitched almost an octave higher. Hiei rolled his eyes. How Jorge managed to stay undercover was beyond him.

Hiei scoffed derisively and said, "Coffee, black." He glanced at Botan and grit his teeth. "How much for hers?"

Botan picked up on his gesture; her eyes widened. "Oh no, you don't have to do that."

Hiei's unyielding eyes bore into hers. He did not accept her refusal. "I don't like being indebted to anyone. Consider it payment for the food."

"Food?" Jorge squealed out.

Botan grinned at the barista. "It's really no big deal. Hiei is my neighbor, and I've been bringing him food from the restaurant."

While she explained, Jorge rang up the drinks. Hiei took out some bills and gracelessly tossed them on the counter. "And I would appreciate if you refrained from doing so in the future," said surly neighbor replied.

Botan frowned as she picked up her drink. "Do you not like it? I can always bring home something else."

Frustration welled up in Hiei. He wanted to scream at this woman, tell her he wanted nothing to do with her. He wanted to demand she keep away from him. Even so, he could admit that she deserved more tact from him. Through gritted teeth, he mustered out, "I already told you. I don't like to owe anyone."

The murky aura surrounding Botan dissipated as light returned to her eyes. "Well, that's a good thing because I say you don't owe me anything. I like doing it. So I will continue, mister, and there's nothing you can do to stop me."

Hiei hissed and roughly snatched up his coffee. "You're a menace woman." Botan giggled in response.

Neither noticed Jorge openly gaping at them. Only Botan remained unaware as Hiei turned back and glared at the officer.

"Anyway, Jorge," Botan cut in, continuing a conversation they were having before Hiei's arrival. "I already told you not to worry about me walking home at night. I'm aware of my surroundings, and nothing's happened so far. I even have my mace, just in case."

"I'd really feel better if you took a cab home or something. At least have a friend drive you. It's not safe at night."

Botan didn't seem phased. "You worry too much," she teased. "I'll be fine. I promise." She turned to Hiei and flashed him a soft, appreciative smile. "Thanks for the coffee. See you later."

With that, she was gone, off to work. Once she left, Jorge said to Hiei, "Please…look after her."

The two had a silent exchange before Hiei walked away and out of the shop. He found it ironic and strange, an officer asking a felon to protect someone they knew. Well, maybe it made sense, in a way. Still, Hiei had no intention of babysitting. It was the woman's own fault if she didn't heed all the advice she was given, not only by him, but by her friend as well. All Hiei could do for her to keep her safe was keep his distance.