Thank you all for such a warm reception to the fic! A few notes before we begin:
- To answer Ladyscorpio0088's question, I will eventually be adding this story to AO3 as well - most likely once I'm finished posting it here. I don't expect this story to be more than 9 chapters, so it'll be a short and sweet run.
- Readers have had trouble accessing the fic, due to ffnet's awful track record. If you see the story disappear, I have not deleted it. It should reappear eventually. I heard people are having better luck with the ffnet app than the mobile website, so that may solve some issues.
- Lastly, a few of you are going through some really tough times and I'm truly sorry to hear that. I hope this chapter can help brighten your spirits, if only a bit.
With that said, please enjoy Chapter 2!
Botan strummed her fingers atop the polished counter of the okonomiyaki cart as she stared out at the streets. It was barely nightfall, the sky rendered a deep azure blue in the afterglow of twilight. Street lamps chased away the growing darkness. Murmurs of quiet conversations and echoes of leisurely footsteps added to the ambient lull.
Botan was due to meet Hiei soon, but she couldn't shake the anxious energy that buzzed beneath the surface of her calm countenance. Especially considering the fire-demon was late. A part of her worried that last week was just a dream; that Hiei was merely a figment of her imagination, borne from the desire to see him again. But then she spotted him walking towards her in the distance and all her worries dissipated.
"Over here!" Botan called out, waving Hiei over excitedly.
"Training ran longer than expected," he explained in lieu of an actual greeting. "If the soldiers had an inkling of discipline, I would've been here sooner."
"And here I was beginning to think you stood me up," she joked, sliding her menu towards him.
The fire-demon surveyed the laminated menu with a contemplative wrinkle between his brows.
"Look familiar?" she asked with a knowing grin.
"We've been here before," he realized slowly, glancing up at the familiar red and yellow lanterns. "Before the Dark Tournament."
"Bingo!" she confirmed. "You seemed to like the food well enough, so I figured it would be a good meeting place."
"Are you sure this was for my benefit?" he challenged. "If I recall correctly, you were the one who wolfed down three of the deserts here, woman."
Botan averted her gaze as she raised her menu to cover her guilty expression. "That's neither here nor there… You really should figure out what you want before the other customers flood in."
Hiei scoffed lightly under his breath as he followed suit and Botan took a moment to compose herself. The air wasn't strained, but there were remnant traces of unfamiliarity drifting between them. Three years was a long time. Things wouldn't return to the way they used to be in a single night, but this was at least a start.
She spied a quick glance at the fire-demon. He'd chosen to forgo his cloak and scarf, instead wearing a simple long sleeved blue tunic and dark pants. There was some sort of accessory around his neck, but whatever was attached to it was hidden beneath his collar. His energy - which was usually dark and unbridled - felt more settled as looked over the menu. He wore an impassive expression, but he seemed more adjusted somehow. A striking difference from the untrusting and tetchy fire-demon she attempted to befriend so long ago.
After they'd both given their orders, Botan swiveled in her chair to face him fully.
"So…"
He glanced her way, red eyes piercing as ever under the amber lantern lights.
"Tell me more about what's happened since you left," she urged lightly. "You were locked in battle for half a year and then…?"
Hiei's hand dipped beneath his collar to reveal the hiruiseki stone attached to the leather around his neck. Botan gasped, leaning in closer to view the pale stone. It wasn't as bright as Yukina's and there were a few abrasions on its surface. It clearly saw better days, but there was still a haunting and irreplaceable air surrounding it. "Mukuro had the stone all along and returned it to me once the trial was over."
"That's incredible!" Botan marveled, eyes still glued to the hiruiseki and the pale blue light it emitted. "You must be so relieved to have it again."
Hiei nodded. "I was offered a permanent position along with the stone. Since then, I've been working as a ranked officer in the army and assisting with the border patrol."
"Wait a minute," she began, blue brows lifting in surprise. "You're a part of the border patrol?"
"Unfortunately," he answered with a telling downward slant of his lips.
"I suppose the jagan would be the perfect ability for its purposes," she considered, tapping a finger against her chin. "It can both locate humans and wipe their memories, making you the best man for the job."
His frown deepened almost petulantly. "It's one of the more unpleasant responsibilities I've been saddled with."
Botan smiled knowingly. "What else do you do?"
"Train new recruits. Quell rebellions and disputes within Mukuro's territory. Embark on the occasional expedition-" Hiei paused. "Don't look at me like that, ferry-girl. It's not nearly as exciting as you're imagining."
"I don't know - it seems like you ended up exactly where you needed to be. Like destiny or fate."
His nose crinkled in distaste. "I don't believe in such things."
"Then what would you call it?"
"Mere happenstance."
"That's a pretty fortuitous happenstance."
He grunted dismissively, folding his arms over his chest. "You haven't said a word about yourself."
"Well… these past few years haven't exactly been easy," she began. "Long days bled into sleepless nights. We faced a great deal of opposition and hostility. There was even a coup at one point."
Hiei's features hardened as he no doubt recalled his promise to return if she needed him.
"But it all turned out okay in the end," she reassured quickly, not wanting the fire-demon to dwell on things he couldn't control. "As we began to uncover more and more corruption, those who weren't so blinded by the old traditions eventually came onto our side. Slowly yet surely, we gained more and more support. And the ideals we strove for had actually made their way into various policies and laws. There's still a lot to be done. We're still dealing with a lot of doubt and scrutiny, but things are changing for the better. Koenma has the freedom and authority to make a real change, and he's been doing a lot of good with it."
"I see."
"It was very touch and go for a moment, but things at least feel a bit more stable now. And I've got more free time, so I can finally breathe again."
"Matters have settled down at the fortress, too," he informed through a morose moue. "Peace plagues the land. There's not much to do but train."
"You don't have to look so disappointed by that, you know." She poked his arm teasingly for good measure. "It'd do you well to relax every now and again."
"Then I suppose it's a good thing that you're here, ferry-girl," he admitted, crimson eyes lifted to meet her gaze evenly. "You're the only one who can pester me into being complacent."
Botan gasped. "You have an awful way of words, you know that?"
The ghost of a smirk edged his lips upwards. "I'm well aware."
.
.
.
Sometime later found the duo headed towards the nearest portal site. There weren't many people in this neck of the woods, so it was silent save for the occasional rustling of trees and scuttering of nocturnal animals. The full moon and speckling of stars up above afforded enough light for them to comfortably wend their way through the off beaten path.
"Do you want to know what the others have been up to since you last saw them?" Botan asked.
"Not particularly, but that won't stop you from telling me," Hiei answered, kicking a stray pebble in his path.
"Right you are!" she said. "Let's see… Keiko and Kuwabara are in their last years of university. They're both in the education field."
"Entrusting the next generation to the oaf doesn't bode well for this world's future."
"He's very studious. You'd be surprised."
"Hn."
"Shizuru opened up her own salon and has a steady stream of clients. Being her own boss certainly suits her," Botan informed. "Yusuke's thinking of setting up his own cart, too, now that he's back in the human world permanently. And Yukina-"
"Has been trying her hand at all sorts of odds and ends lately," Hiei finished.
"Oh." Botan blinked in surprise. "You've been keeping tabs on her with the jagan?"
"She told me herself when I revealed myself as her brother."
"Yes, of course, that makes sense," Botan said, nodding along. It took a few more steps for his words to finally sink in and when they did, she came to a complete and total stop. "You what?!"
"I told her the truth."
"When?"
"At the old woman's temple."
Botan was quiet for a moment as she came to terms with the bombshell revelation. Shortly after reuniting with Hiei, she was summoned back to the Spirit World. She never made it to the temple, much less had the chance to catch up with everyone afterwards. Even so, she wouldn't have guessed that Hiei's reason for appearing was to finally set things right with Yukina. Not when he used to be so tight lipped and adamant against forming any type of relationship with her.
"What did you think I came to do?" Hiei asked grumpily.
"I thought you were going to return the stone and tell Yukina to abandon her search," she admitted.
"Hn. So little faith, woman."
"Well, you didn't give me any reason to believe you'd ever tell her!" she justified. "What changed your mind?"
Hiei stared up at the moon, his expression turning contemplative under the lucent light and passing shadows. "I just decided it was time to stop hiding," he said lowly. "She's waited long enough."
Botan smiled in understanding. "Well, I'm very happy for both of you. It feels like everything's falling into place. For all of us."
Hiei grunted, whether it was in affirmation or merely a scoff, she couldn't be sure. Their conversation dipped into a lull as they continued onwards, but that was just fine with the ferry-girl. Botan was comforted to simply have Hiei near once more. His sandalwood scent, the thrum of his energy surrounding them, his quiet and sturdy presence. She missed it more than she realized. She wanted this to be a constant again. She didn't want to lose him to time or distance or endless responsibilities ever again.
"Botan." Hiei's voice promptly snapped her out of her musings. "I can hear you thinking."
The ferry-girl pouted. "You used the jagan on me?"
"I didn't need to. You always look the same when you're overthinking and we both know rumination isn't exactly your strong suit."
"Ugh, you're awful, Hiei!"
"I know."
"The absolute worst!"
"I'm well aware."
"A complete and total menace."
"So you've told me before."
"But even so… I missed this."
Hiei didn't reply, but he didn't have to. The slightly off guard look in his eyes and the quiet acceptance that followed said more than enough.
"We're here," Hiei announced, stopping in front of the hazy distortion in the air. It was undetectable to normal humans, but upon getting closer, the portal reacted to their energies and shone an otherworldly glow over both of them.
"I suppose it's time for you to head back to your exhilarating and clandestine life back at the fortress," she teased.
"It's hardly as exaggerated as you're making it out to be."
"You say that, but I don't believe you. You're always downplaying everything."
"Then come and see it for yourself."
"Really?"
"Really, woman."
Botan was so thrown by the invitation that she could hardly respond. Hiei had always erred on the side of seclusion. He preferred to maintain his privacy. And he certainly wasn't the type to let others in easily. But he was still willing to share his new life and all that it entailed with her and that meant the world to the ferry-girl.
"Well?" he asked, his impatient tone undermined by its edge of uncertainty. "Do you want to?"
"Absolutely!" she accepted eagerly. "I've never been to any of the three kings' strongholds. And I'd love to see the place you've been living all this time."
"It's settled, then." He averted his gaze, expression partially obscured by the portal's bright light. "I'll take you there next time."
Botan beamed. "I'll hold you to it."
Like clockwork, Hiei found himself in the Spirit World once again. He traveled down the winding yellow road, leapt up to the rooftops and raced past the cluster of buildings until he found the one that housed the ferry-girls' quarters. Judging by her energy signal, Botan's room hadn't changed since he last visited. He jumped down to her balcony and raised a fist to the glass panel of the door.
He'd followed these same actions many times during his service to the Spirit World and yet, it felt oddly new and unfamiliar as he waited for Botan to respond.
It wasn't long before the curtains were drawn aside and he was greeted by amethyst eyes and a wide smile.
"Come in!" Botan beckoned, after unlocking the door and sliding it open.
He grunted in acknowledgment and walked through the threshold. The place was in disarray, various articles of clothing and accessories strewn around every surface. It was as if he was transported back in time; waiting on the woman as she deliberated on an outfit before dragging him off to some new event or affair in the human world. Some things truly never changed.
Pushing his hands in his pockets, he stepped further inside. There were a few new pictures and keepsakes adorning the place, but the majority of her room still aligned with his memories. His gaze drifted back to Botan as she rifled through her things.
"You should have been ready by now," he pointed out.
"I know, but I can't settle on an outfit," she explained while holding out an intricately designed yellow kimono.
Hiei hiked an unimpressed brow at her.
"My work attire is out of the question," she muttered, pacing back and forth. "And human clothing is probably a big no-no, too. That just leaves kimonos. But I doubt that's the norm in Makai either."
"What does it matter?"
"It's my first time being there."
"And?"
"And first impressions matter!"
"You'll be judged regardless. That's just the way of the three worlds."
Botan sighed, shoulders wilting as she discarded the kimono on her bed. She was clearly upset, he could sense it in the way her energy shifted. He could see it in the jut of her lips and the nervous way she played with her fingers.
The Spirit World's rumor mill painted Makai as a harsh, dangerous and chaotic land. It wasn't exactly far off from the truth. There was little tolerance or sympathy for those from the other realms. Perhaps it wasn't in her best interests to take her there, after all.
"We don't have to go," he decided.
"Oh, but I want to," she said.
"You're clearly nervous."
"Yes, but in a good way!" she explained. "I think it'll be fascinating to see the fortress!"
"It's a gruesome, grotesque place. Nothing like the idealized version you have in your head."
"I'd still like to see it for myself."
He held her gaze scrutinizingly. There was honest truth in her eyes. And no hesitation. Botan was far too curious for her own good, but Hiei saw no harm in indulging her. He was the one to suggest their meeting place, after all.
"Then hurry up," he said, turning away. "I'll be waiting for you outside."
.
.
.
The two stood before the fortress gates where Mukuro's stronghold cut an impressive figure in the background.
Botan sidled closer to him, dressed in a simple, three-quarter sleeved pink top, jeans and white sneakers. "I'm a little nervous."
"Don't be," he said in that timeless way of his. "If anyone looks at you the wrong way, I'll kill them."
"...You're not serious are you?"
"Deadly."
"Please don't commit murder on my account."
He refrained from making any promises. The ferry-girl defended him - even when it wasn't needed - whenever he faced scrutiny in her world. His honor-code dictated he do the same in turn.
"Did he really bring a filthy ferry-girl around?" one of the guards spat.
Hiei snarled and took a step forward when Botan's hands wound around his arm insistently. She wasn't strong enough to stop him, not by a long run, but the sudden contact froze him.
"I've found it's best to ignore comments like these," she cautioned quietly. "The peaceful route is best."
"Don't pretend to be pacifistic." His eyes narrowed in light accusation. "You've got an even worse temper than me."
"Yes, but all I've got are my oar and metal bat at my disposal," she replied, before raising her voice pointedly. "You have a psychic eye, a host of fiery abilities, and a dragon that can incinerate half of the fortress with its initial unleashing alone. So let's try not to lose our temper over something so small, shall we?"
"…"
"Besides, I doubt Mukuro would be happy with you destroying your fellow comrades. Especially ones as important as the guards manning the front gate."
The guards exchanged nervous glances and visibly stiffened. Hiei resisted the urge to smirk. The woman was craftier than most gave her credit for.
"Let's just be on our way, okay?" Botan suggested.
"Fine," he bit out, staring at the two pointedly.
The guards wasted no time in opening the creaky gates, all the while avoiding eye-contact. A triumphant smile curled Botan's lips as she was granted access further inside, but her expression wavered once they entered the compound.
The fortress was not for the faint of heart. The interior was dark and twisted. Entrails and body parts lined the walls and ceilings. A chilling and oppressive tension hung in the air. It was a stark contrast to the Spirit World's pristine and brightly colored surfaces.
"Too morbid for your tastes, ferry-girl?" he taunted.
Botan shook her head, glancing away from a bloodshot eye tacked onto the wall. "I-it's just going to take a little getting used to us all…"
"If you say so."
He showed her the various areas in order of appearance. The common areas were filled with boisterous laughter and discussions. The weapons vault was teeming with every weapon imaginable, along with the tools and items needed to maintain them. The training room - which the ferry-girl only peeked in through the ajar gap in the door - had all manner of energy blasts, weapons and even bodies tossed and thrown around the area. The mess hall was a fair bit quieter, but still noisy in comparison to the ones he remembered in the Spirit World. Hiei intended to bypass the soldiers' quarters entirely, but Botan halted him.
"Is your room down there, too?" she asked.
"Yes."
"Can we see it?"
"Why?"
"You've seen mine countless times. And I am curious about your sense of decor…"
"Really ferry-girl?"
"Really! There's no way I'm passing up this opportunity."
"Don't expect much," he relented, trudging down the hall.
Botan seemed to be waiting with bated breath as he approached his room door and pushed it open. She stepped inside first and glanced around. As he warned, there wasn't much to see aside from the bed, trunk and storage units that were already set up prior to his arrival. He kept his sword propped up against the left wall, along with a small jar of choji oil and a worn cloth beside it.
The bluette's gaze swept over the area from top to bottom. "You really could afford to spruce the place up a bit. It's so drab."
"Would you prefer if it was a cluttered eye sore like yours?"
"Hey!" she huffed. "My room is tasteful!"
"And mine is practical."
Botan seemed to disagree, but as she moved towards the window and drew the heavy curtains back, all arguments died on her tongue. Her expression lifted as she peered out at the scenery. "Wow," she breathed out. "The view is gorgeous."
Hiei followed her gaze, taking in the expanse of green grass and sprawling hills. He never paid much attention to it until now.
"I suppose you don't need much when you've got sights like these," she noted. "But if you ever want to change it up, I've got a few ideas–"
"Hard pass."
She grinned knowingly as they filed out of his room. The moment they reentered the hallway, they were accosted by the last person Hiei wanted to see.
"Well, well, well," Haru sing-songed, leaning against his doorframe and watching them with interest. "Who do we have here?"
"None of your concern," Hiei returned.
"Don't be like that. You can't just bring your girlfriend around and not introduce us."
"G-girlfriend?" Botan choked out.
"Ignore him."
"No, don't ignore me!" Haru said, pushing his way past the fire-demon to extend a hand towards the ferry-girl. "The name's Haru. And who might you be, pretty lady?"
"Botan," she supplied amicably. She accepted his hand with a smile and shook it once . "I'm Hiei's…"
Haru's brows lifted expectantly.
"Friend," Hiei finished curtly and pointedly.
"Oh, I see! You must be from his Spirit World days."
"That's right," she confirmed. "We became fast friends right at the start of his… tenure."
"Well, isn't that precious," Haru replied, folding his arms over his chest and nodding to himself. "I was doubting whether he could get along with others or not. He's so prickly."
"Isn't he?" Botan agreed, mirth playing in her eyes.
"But underneath that hard exterior is a pretty decent guy."
"With the warmest heart."
"Stop talking about me like I'm not here," Hiei gritted.
"But it's so fun," Haru taunted.
Botan hid her laughter behind her hand.
He rolled his eyes and turned away as the emotion-reader and ferry-girl delved into a more in depth introduction. As the two explained their respective roles in their respective worlds, Hiei glared at anyone that glanced their way for too long. He didn't bring Botan here for her to be looked down upon or insulted. And if anyone dared, they would lose a limb.
"Hiei?"
Botan's voice filtered through his thoughts. When he turned to view her, both she and Haru were staring at him with thinly veiled amusement pushing at their lips.
"What?" he asked.
"You can stop guard-dogging now," Haru advised. "We're ready to move on."
"We?"
"I may have told him he could come with us…" Botan trailed off.
"Don't you have work to do?" Hiei accused.
"I am working! As Mukuro's trusted advisor, I'm helping to improve the relations between demons and spirits. I can't think of a more productive use of my time than that."
"The only thing you're productive at is playing the fool."
"Thanks!"
"That wasn't a compliment."
"Haru!" a booming, gravelly voice echoed throughout the halls. "Stop fraternizing and get your ass in here!"
"Crap, I completely forgot about the council meeting," Haru bemoaned.
"Hn, so much for being a productive member of the fortress."
Haru sent Hiei a withering look, before turning his attention towards the bluette. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Botan."
"Likewise!"
"Oh, and be sure Hiei shows you to the gardens," he said as he took a few retreating steps backwards. "I'm sure you'll enjoy them."
Botan's interest was clearly piqued. Haru winked at her and then saluted the both of them, before turning and jogging away. Hiei heard the harsh slam of the door followed by the indiscernible rumbles of a discussion beginning shortly thereafter.
"I like him," she commented.
"You shouldn't."
"He said he can read emotions," she mentioned as they continued down the corridor. "Between your jagan and his techniques, you two must make a lethal combination."
"He's never on the field. His talents are reserved for outside of battle."
"Interesting…"
In the end, Hiei decided to take Haru's advice. The only places left to show her within the fortress were of little relevance - he doubted Botan cared much for the archives, the medical wing or the dungeons - and the gardens were usually empty during this time of day.
Botan paused as they approached one of the side doors. "Should we at least greet Mukuro first?"
"Mukuro isn't here," Hiei replied.
"Oh poo. I was hoping to meet your fearless leader," she pouted.
"There's no need to fret. There will be other opportunities."
Botan wasn't seeming to expect that, but he could tell that it made her happy, nevertheless. It had always been ridiculously easy to please her, so he ignored the pleasant warmth building in his chest and pushed the door open.
They both squinted against the onslaught of sunlight; it was a sudden and harsh contrast to the dark conditions and lowlight within the fortress. The air was less oppressive, lacking the general sense of bloodlust that emanated from soldiers and inhabitants alike of the fortress.
All manner of flowers and greenery thrived within the gardens. They were well-kept and teeming with life, thanks to the staff. Hiei watched Botan take in the sights and unfamiliar flora while the familiar rhythm of the soldiers running their afternoon drills reverberated from a distance. It should have been odd to have his past and present colliding like this, but he found himself oddly settled.
For a long time, the fire-demon's life was marked with only loss, violence and death. He'd been tied down by one outside influence after another — the bandits who raised him, his own untameable bloodlust, the chains of his past, and his probation under the Spirit World — but things were different now.
He forged his own destiny. He chartered his own path. And he made his own choices. He was finally learning to accept the good that entered his life and had long since stopped denying himself of the things he thought he didn't deserve. That included the ferry-girl and the friendship he once tried to relinquish.
"Say Hiei," she started, pulling away from the purple flowers she'd been observing. "Did you ever think about me in the time we were apart?"
He fought the urge to look away, keeping his eyes fixed on hers. "You should know the answer to that."
"I wondered about you all the time," she revealed. "It still feels kind of unreal to be with you like this again."
"I never intended for so much time to pass by."
"Neither did I," she confessed. "But I suppose there's no sense in dwelling on the past. Not when everything's back to how it should be."
"I prefer not to look back either," he said. "We can only move forward."
She smiled at him, bright and trusting and honest, and Hiei found his resolve cementing.
He didn't care if his friendship with Botan was unconventional or odd. He didn't care if others would never understand it. Now that she was here, filling the emptiness he didn't even realize he had, he wasn't willing to let her go.
He would never turn away from her again.
Thank you again for all the kind feedback and support. Please drop a review if you enjoyed this chapter as well.
See you in the next installment!