Sorry for the delay, guys! Life has been crazy busy, but it's all been good stuff, so I can't complain! Without further ado - enjoy Chapter 8!

Hiei's heavy footfalls echoed along the corridor as he trekked towards Mukuro's throne room. She was summoning him for something or the other - most likely a new set of recruits that needed breaking in. He smirked at the prospect. Perhaps they would prove to be worth his while this time.

When he entered the room, however, he immediately sensed that the air was off. Mukuro's gaze was sharp and critical as it met his, and the purse of her lips indicated that she was about to say something unpleasant.

"You called for me," Hiei stated, if only to break the terse silence.

"Yes, I'm just waiting on-"

"Hey!" the emotion-reader exclaimed as he entered, still dressed in casual robes. "My two favorite people in the same room. What's the occasion?"

"That's what I'd like to know," Hiei said, lifting an accusing brow at their leader.

Mukuro held his gaze evenly, arms folded loosely across her chest. "I called you here to find out what exactly is going on between you and that ferry-girl of yours."

Hiei's expression dropped. Mukuro never inquired about his personal life. She wasn't the type to pry, much less care about matters that didn't directly relate to her own goals. He was so thrown off guard by the question that he failed to respond.

"Is she your lover?" she hedged.

"No."

"Then merely a friend?"

Hiei hesitated.

"Apparently they're something in between," Haru mock whispered behind his hand.

"Sounds insouciant."

"Right?"

Nails digging crescents into his palm, Hiei felt his very thin patience wearing down into nothing.

"We know what we're doing," he gritted out. "It's far from thoughtless."

Haru glanced away with a pout, but said nothing. It didn't go unnoticed by Mukuro.

"Haru certainly doesn't seem to think so, if the look on his face is anything to go by," she remarked. "And considering his talents in this area, I'm inclined to believe him."

Hiei glared at the emotion-reader. "This isn't any of Haru's business."

"But it is mine when you bring her to this fortress and play these foolish games," Mukuro countered sternly.

"It isn't a game."

"Then what else would you call it?"

"It's an agreement that benefits us both."

She pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. "I can't control what you do in your spare time, but if your personal matters hinder the inner workings of this fortress, then you and I will have a problem. I don't need Koenma butting his nose into our affairs because you broke one of his precious ferry-girl's fragile hearts."

"That won't happen."

"You're giving me your word, Hiei?"

Hiei nodded once.

"Then you're dismissed," she said with a wave of her hand. "The both of you."

Haru saluted Mukuro with a smile and took his leave while Hiei merely inclined his head and followed him out. When they were far enough away from earshot, he rounded on the emotion-reader.

"What the hell was that?"

"Ack - get your hands off your sword!" Haru said, hands raised in defense as he took a retreating step back. "In case you haven't noticed, I was just as blindsided as you!"

Hiei's hand still gripped the pommel threateningly. "You didn't tell her anything."

"No, why would I?"

"Because you meddle in everything and continuously run at the mouth."

"Geez, you really know how to flatter a guy," Haru grumbled, crossing his arms tightly. "But no, I didn't say anything. You're the one who parades Botan around here without an explanation."

Hiei averted his gaze when he realized that it was true. For reasons unfathomable to him, the ferry-girl had taken a liking to the fortress and some of its inhabitants. It wasn't unlikely to see her here before or after one of their outings. Perhaps he should start to limit it, though, especially if Mukuro was going to make it a habit to interrogate him on his motives and intentions.

"Besides," Haru sniffed. "I'm a firm believer in letting people live their lives, mistakes and all."

The fire-demon let his arm fall to his side. "This isn't a mistake."

"Keep telling yourself that."

Hiei's energy spiked dangerously. "Haru-"

"Oops, is that the time?" He stared down at his bare wrist. "I gotta jet."

And then he zipped away.

Hiei stomped off in the opposite direction, mood effectively soured. He wasn't ignorant to the fact that what he was doing with Botan was unconventional. No one else but them could ever truly understand it. But it would eventually come to a close, and he wasn't quite sure where that would leave him.

The fire-demon wasn't so emotional that he would fall apart without the ferry-girl. Even so… merely thinking about their inevitable end left him feeling tense and on edge. He was halfway down the stairs leading to the training grounds in the dungeons when the communication mirror beeped from his pocket, breaking him from his troubling thoughts. Upon flipping the lid open, he was greeted with the sight of the buoyant ferry-girl. She was flying - if the wind whipping through her hair and backdrop of cloudless blue was any indicator.

"Hello Hiei.' Her smile was as bright and warm as the midday sun as she greeted him.

"Botan."

"Are you free tonight?"

"I should be."

"Perfect! I found this really cute dumpling shop near Yusuke's school. Want to give it a try?"

"I'm skeptical," he admitted. "If you're calling it 'cute', that doesn't bode well for me."

Botan giggled as they both thought back to the cat-cafe experience she suckered him into during one of their many dates. "Fear not, Hiei, I just meant that the exterior was pretty!" she explained. "And the peek I got of the interior was nice, too."

"I fail to see how the shop's exterior bears any significance on its menu."

"First impressions and appearances are important. I'm sure it'll be worth our while.'"

"If you say so, woman."

"I do! So, bring your appetite!" Botan afforded him a bright and beaming smile - the type that lit up her amethyst eyes - before the call ended and the screen turned to static.

Pocketing the device, he found his tension melting away and his resolve renewed.

In the end, nobody else's reservations or opinions held any weight. Their agreement was working the way it was intended to. And if it made Botan happy, then that was all that mattered.

Botan lost count of how many dates they'd shared since their very first one. Keeping track made it feel as though there would be an eventual end, so she simply cherished every moment while it lasted within the fleeting nature of their arrangement.

Tonight, they settled for the human world. Autumn was starting to bring in a more prominent chill, so she wore a warm turtleneck sweater, her favorite tights and ankle boots. Hiei seemed to put some effort into his appearance as well, foregoing his usual attire for a long sleeved dark crimson shirt. The material looked thin, but the fire-demon didn't need much to protect him from the cold.

"Say, Hiei," she began, her tone light and inquisitive. "Have you ever considered where you might be in the future?"

"You know I'm not one for foresight."

"That's true."

"Why?"

"I was just thinking about where we all might end up eventually…" she revealed. "Ever thought of one day settling down with someone or starting a family?"

"No."

"Me either."

Hiei arched a disbelieving brow. "I figured you would have."

"Ferry-girls weren't meant to yearn for much outside of our duty to maintain the balance," she informed. "I used to be that way before meeting you all."

"And now?"

"If I allow myself to think about it, it does sound nice…"

The distasteful crinkle of fire-demon's nose indicated that he thought otherwise.

Botan tilted her head at him. "You don't agree?"

"I prefer solitude to companionship. And kids are a menace."

"Oh, but I'm sure you'll feel differently about your own."

"I doubt it."

"Don't be so pessimistic, Hiei," she chided. "I'm certain you would have the sweetest little ones."

"What in the three realms would make you assume something so far-fetched?"

"Because you're one of the best people I know. It just stands to reason that your offspring would be the same."

Hiei's brow furrowed, the conflict written into the curve of his brow and slant of his lips. He was silent for a long time and Botan feared she might have said too much. She was tempted to retract her statement, when he finally spoke.

"It makes no difference. None of that is near my distant future."

"But maybe one day?"

"Perhaps," he conceded.

"That's the spirit!"

"Don't get too excited, woman. It's only a slight probability."

"I suppose I'm in the same boat as you. Quite possibly even worse, given my inexperience," she said, boots crunching against the dead leaves as they meandered down the path. "Why, I haven't even been kissed yet!"

"What does it matter?"

"What if I'm terrible at it?" she wondered, coming to a halt as horror struck her. "Nobody will ever want to be with a bad kisser!"

"Ridiculous."

"It's really not!" she insisted, hands balled into fists at her sides. "Physical chemistry is just as important as the rest, you know."

Hiei eyed her for a long and quiet moment, his expression unreadable. "It really means that much to you, woman?"

She nodded petulantly.

"Fine," the fire-demon acquiesced. Before she could respond or react, he leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers. "There. Now your inexperience is a moot point."

Botan's eyes went wide, fingertips skirting up to the corner of her mouth. It only lasted a split second; much too quickly for her to properly analyze, but the warmth lingering on her lips was proof enough of what he'd just done. "T-that was…"

"What?" he challenged defiantly.

"You call that a kiss?" she blurted out.

Hiei glared.

"It was more of a peck…"

"…"

"A brief touch at best."

"…"

"Skin to skin contact that just happened to be lips."

"I get it, ferry-girl," he snapped. "But I don't care for such trivial things."

"How do you know you don't like it if you've never done it right?"

"And what would you know about it at all? You aren't exactly an expert," he reminded her.

"W-well, I have a general idea…"

"Then show me."

"Huh?!"

"If you're so sure you know how, then prove it."

Botan faltered, nerves kicking in full force as a swift blush spread across her cheeks.

"Hn." He smirked in that taunting and cocky way of his. "Unless you're all talk."

The heat of her previous embarrassment simmered into righteous indignation. She couldn't let Hiei have the upper hand this time. Not when he was just as inexperienced as she was. "Oh fine!"

Botan grabbed Hiei's wrist, dragging him off the main path and further into the park. They stood beneath a weeping willow tree, its drooping branches and leaves creating a makeshift barrier from prying eyes.

As she met Hiei's unwavering gaze, her pulse skittered. This was a terrible, horrible, awful idea. But with Hiei so close, staring at her with that expectant look and offering up everything she wanted on a silver platter, her good sense was thrown by the wayside.

Placing her hands on either side of the fire-demon's face, she took a grounding breath and then pressed her mouth gently against his. The initial contact was thrilling and inviting, but it wasn't enough. Tilting her head slightly, she changed the angle and parted her lips in a way that was much more pleasurable for the both of them. She applied a bit more pressure teasingly and the action coaxed a low groan from Hiei. Spurred on by his positive response, she allowed her hands to travel down to the nape of his neck and carded her fingers through his surprisingly soft and thick hair. Hiei's arms wound around her waist, pulling her flush against him. It was easy to fall into an intoxicating rhythm of slow and experimental kisses with the fire-demon content to follow her lead.

Botan wasn't sure how long they remained that way, but when they broke apart, she was breathless and a little lightheaded. Hiei didn't look any more composed than she was, his red pupils dilated and darkened with desire.

"Still don't care about such trivial things?" she asked, arching a taunting blue brow.

The fire-demon's eyes remained on her lips. His grip on her waist loosened and then tightened with the ebb and flow of his thoughts. It was as if he was stuck between a rock and a hard place, or more accurately, a ferry-girl and the bark of the willow tree.

"...Hiei?"

He pulled her back against him and sealed his lips over hers decisively. This time, Hiei kissed her with more intent behind the action. Lips burning as they branded her. It was all-consuming and intense and if she closed her eyes and let herself get carried away, she could fool herself into thinking that this was real. That Hiei's kisses were born of passion and love, not mere curiosity. And that he wanted her just as much as she wanted him.

But nothing good lasted forever and eventually they both parted for air.

"Satisfied, ferry-girl?"

"Huh?" She was still riding the high of the exchange, her head swimming pleasantly.

"Was that enough experience for you?" he asked.

Botan was tempted to say no, if only to have Hiei's mouth and hands on her again. But that was far too greedy of her. And they had already broken their no-kissing clause enough for one night.

"Y-yes," she replied. "I think I've gotten the hang of it."

Hiei took a step back and pushed his hands in his pockets. As the two exited the canopy of leaves and returned back to the main pathway, she spared a shy glance in her friend's direction.

"You're a very thorough kissing partner," she commented, in an effort to dispel the silence between them.

"I'm not in the habit of doing anything halfway."

She blushed at the implications of that statement and cleared her throat. "Right."

The ferry-girl glanced to and fro, eyes landing on Yusuke's ramen stand situated near the corner of the block. He was collecting money from a departing customer when he spotted them.

"Hey," he greeted. "Did you guys see the show?"

"Show?" Botan echoed.

"Yeah, apparently some couple is macking in the park," he informed with a chuckle as he wiped his counters clean. "Heard some of the passerbys talking about it."

Botan stiffened.

"Talk about horny…" he carried on, completely oblivious as he continued on with his work. "Some people just can't keep it in their pants."

"Well that's a little rude!" she defended hotly. "There was definitely no below the belt business!"

Yusuke paused in his cleaning to glance up at her. His gaze bounced back and forth between the fire-demon and ferry-girl, and that's when Botan realized her disheveled state of appearance. Her sweater was rumpled and her hair was falling out of its ponytail. Hiei didn't look any better; lips red and clearly kiss-bitten.

Botan blanched, mouth closing and opening as she tried to come up with an excuse.

"Holy shit!" Yusuke exclaimed. "It was you two!"

"Don't be delusional, detective," Hiei spat.

And if it weren't for the tousled way his hair was sprawling out or the wrinkle of his clothes, even she might have believed in his staunch denial.

Yusuke turned his penetrating gaze towards her.

"Botan?" he pressed. "Something you want to tell me?"

The ferry-girl laughed nervously, grabbing Hiei's hand and continuing onwards. "W-well, we're on a time crunch, so we'll see you later, Yusuke!"

"I'm onto you two!" he yelled, causing the surrounding strangers to eye them all oddly.

.

.

.

A couple of days later, at her biweekly meetup at the Yukimura diner with the girls, Botan found herself cornered.

"So, you and Hiei, huh?" Keiko asked, stirring her straw in her tall glass.

The ferry-girl feigned innocence as she took a sip of her lemonade. "What ever do you mean?"

"Yusuke told me about the other night, you know."

Botan promptly choked on her drink.

"Mind sharing with the rest of the class?" Shizuru asked, glancing between the two.

"Apparently, Botan and Hiei were caught kissing in the park," Keiko revealed with a grin.

Yukina's eyes lit up. Shizuru turned to Botan to confirm the truth.

Botan's cheeks flamed. Before she could even think up a suitable response, Yukina had taken her hands.

"This is wonderful, Botan," she said through an accepting smile. The sincerity shining through her ruby eyes was almost too much for the ferry-girl to bear. "I'm so happy for the both of you."

"It certainly feels long overdue," Keiko added warmly.

"Agreed." Shizuru leaned back in her chair with a nod. "I always wondered when you two would finally stop running circles around each other."

Botan's gaze darted between the three women, feeling overwhelmed, guilty and trapped. She wanted to tell them the truth, but as she tried to form the words, she realized how pathetic they sounded. 'I'm in love with Hiei, but since I'm too cowardly to tell him, we're only fake dating instead.'

They wouldn't understand, much less approve.

"It's all just… very new," she said in a strained tone. She hated lying to her friends, but she couldn't bear to be fully transparent, either. "That's why we haven't told anyone."

"That's understandable," Shizuru sympathized. "Although, if you wanted to keep things discreet, you probably should have kept your hands and lips to yourselves in public."

Botan laughed sheepishly, flushing a deep scarlet as the memories of that night returned to her. They hadn't kissed since then, which was probably for the best. It was hard enough getting that one time out of her head. If they made a habit out of it, she might not be able to function.

"So, who made the first move?" Keiko asked.

"Um… well, it was me," Botan revealed sheepishly. She was the one to bring up the faux dating, after all. "Luckily, Hiei was receptive and we've been taking it slow from there."

"My brother tends to turn away from the emotional," Yukina began. "I'm happy to know that he's opening himself up to more."

Botan nodded. "He has. And once he commits to something, he does it completely and wholly. These past weeks have been wonderful, really."

Countless dates, easy conversations and burgeoning affections attested to that. The place Hiei occupied in her heart continued to grow with each passing day. Her expression softened as her thoughts centered on the fire-demon. She wondered what he was doing at this very moment. If he was looking forward to their meeting tonight.

Her communication device rang, jolting her out of her reverie.

"Speak of the devil," Shizuru teased.

Botan's lips curled into a self-satisfied grin. "Excuse me, ladies."

The ferry-girl exited the diner and walked a few paces away, beneath the shade of a tree. She flipped the device's cover open and smiled at the image of Hiei displayed on the screen. "This is a pleasant surprise. I'm not used to you making social calls."

"I can't make it tonight," Hiei said, cutting straight to the chase, as always.

She couldn't help the way she deflated. "Bummer, I was hoping to drag you to a movie!"

"Then I suppose it's a good thing that I'll be unavailable."

She pouted and sent him a withering look. "Your awful date etiquette aside, is everything okay?"

"There are rumblings of a rebellion in the south," he explained. "I'm taking a unit with me to see what the fuss is about."

"Do you think it'll end in violence?"

"It always does."

Botan's eyes thinned at his expression. "You don't have to look so pleased about that, mister."

Hiei's smirk sharpened. "It's been far too long since I've had a decent challenge."

The ferry-girl merely shook her head exasperatedly. Of course Hiei would only think of the thrill. And sure, that was his prerogative. But when it came to battle, the fire-demon had a tendency to be reckless and impulsive. There was no telling what dangers awaited him.

"Don't fret, woman. I'll see you before I leave."

She perked up, not at all expecting that promise. "You will?"

"I have time for that much, at the very least."

"Okay, I'll hold you to that, then." Botan's smile turned fond as her heart warmed. The way he continued to make time and space for her in his life never failed to touch her. It fortified her affections, made them flower tenfold. She realized she was staring at him shamelessly, so she cleared her throat and jumped to another topic. "Um, while I have you, there is something we need to discuss."

"Go on."

"Yusuke may have told the others about us…"

Hiei frowned. "Of course the ex-detective couldn't keep his mouth shut."

"The girls asked me about it… and well, I couldn't exactly tell them the truth," she stated. "So now they think we're dating. For real."

Hiei was silent for a while. She could hear the heavy and methodic stomping of boots as soldiers patrolled the area. The distant clang of weapons. The holler of voices.

"Let them be," he decided eventually. "What we choose to do is nobody else's business."

"I know," Botan said through a pout. "I just wonder how we'll explain ourselves once this is all over."

"There's no sense in lamenting over it now," he advised. Then he paused to add, "Not unless you were planning on cutting our arrangement short already."

Botan shook her head. "I like what we have going right now."

"Then it's settled."

"I suppose it is," she agreed warmly.

.

.

.

Later that night, Botan sat at the edge of her bed, waiting for Hiei to show. Her eyes passed over their contract, rolled up and bound with a seal and tucked away in the corner of her vanity. Two ticket stubs to a slasher film were pinned to her mirror. A small vase with glowing cosmos from their latest trip to the valley sat on her nightstand. The mini-panda Hiei accidentally won after banging his fist against the claw machine in frustration was propped up against her pillows.

She was amassing quite the collection of mementos.

And with every meeting, her affections grew more and more. It was so easy to forget that all of this wasn't real. It was too easy to fall into the blissful fantasy.

There were moments when she considered revealing what was in her heart. Each day the need grew louder and louder. It was only a matter of time until she revealed her hand - intentionally or not. Strangely enough, she was beginning to think it wouldn't be the worst outcome in the three worlds.

A familiar breeze alerted her to a new presence and she turned to see Hiei on her balcony. Expression brightening, she took a stand and met him outside.

"Hey you. I was beginning to think you wouldn't show," she greeted.

"I told you I would."

"I know." Botan smiled. "You must be pretty stoked, huh? It's been a while since you really cut loose, right?"

"It's still too soon to tell if it will be worth my while."

She hummed in agreement.

"I don't know how long it will be," he pointed out.

"So long as you come back in one piece," she replied. "You're still so rash after all this time."

"You needn't worry. I don't plan on falling to disloyal cretin."

"Of course not."

They both turned towards the skyline. The nightscape still held hints of pink near the horizon. The stars peeked out shyly from their dark veils. It was a quiet and beautiful scene, but Botan could hardly pull her attention away from the fire-demon.

"Hiei?"

He turned his gaze to her, red eyes bright and intent and unguarded under the moonlight.

Botan wanted to tell him everything. That she loved him so much it felt like her heart might burst. That she wished - more than anything - for him to feel the same. That she didn't want to prepare him for some future woman, because she wanted him all to herself.

But the words died in her throat. Instead, she acted on instinct. She reached out and took his face in both hands. Hiei was silent, gaze dithering from her eyes down to her lips. Botan leaned in agonizingly slow and sealed her lips over his. He relaxed into the touch, taking only what she offered by way of soft and sensual kisses.

"What was that for?" he asked, still just a hair's breadth away from her lips.

"Luck."

"You know I don't believe in luck."

"I know." She continued kissing him in between every couple of words. "Which is why. I'm giving you. As much. As I. Can."

Hiei snaked an arm around her and pulled her back against him, drawing out their last kiss until they were both breathless.

"What was that for?" she asked in a daze as he released her.

The ghost of a smirk quirked his lips. "I already told you, woman. I don't do anything halfway."

"You certainly don't," she breathed out, placing a hand over her racing heart.

Hiei fixed his gaze out towards the horizon. "I should go. My unit wanted to depart tonight."

"Of course," she agreed. "Take care of yourself, okay?"

He nodded, affording her one last glance before jumping down onto the snaking road below. She leaned against the railing and watched him depart, heart swelling with affection. Maybe the next time she saw him, she'd have finally gathered up the courage to tell him the truth.

The rebellion was as brutal as it was satisfying. In the end, Hiei and the other soldiers defeated the dissidents and brought in the survivors for Mukuro's judgment. When he returned to the fortress, he was ushered to the healing tanks and then slept off his fatigue for nearly an entire day.

He should have called Botan when he was back on his feet, but he figured she would appreciate an in-person visit more.

So, he made his way to the Spirit World.

Her room was empty and he couldn't sense her nearby, which meant she was somewhere in the human realm. There were only a few places she frequented, and he caught wind of her energy trail on the usual pathway in the park.

The ground was scattered with fallen leaves. Most of the trees had gone bare. And near the willow, curving around the bend, he spotted Botan with that infuriating psychic of hers. They were close, far too close, and Yugo had her face cradled in one hand. It was obvious what was about to happen or what had just occurred.

The scene shouldn't have cut him to the core the way it did. This was the obvious outcome to their situation. Yuro would be a fool to deny Botan. And the ferry-girl deserved everything she wanted and more. Still - he couldn't ignore the way his heart seemed to splinter and crack beneath the weight of his own weakness.

The psychic noticed him first, alerting Botan to the fire-demon's presence. Botan whirled around, surprise and relief fluttering over her expression. He couldn't hear what she'd said to the object of her affections, but then she was hastening over to his side. Hiei couldn't understand why, though. She had gotten everything she wanted. There was no sense in playing games with him any longer.

"You're back!" she exclaimed, hugging him warmly. "How was it? Were you hurt at all?"

"I'm fine, Botan," he returned, pulling away dismissively.

"What's the matter?"

"Nothing, woman. You should return to your psychic."

"That's alright," she said with a wave of her hand. "The team is meeting up without me."

"..."

"Do you want to do something tonight?" she asked hopefully. "We can catch up. I've got so much to tell you."

Hiei shook his head wordlessly. The last thing he wanted to do was listen to how Yuzo swept her off her feet.

"Oh, you probably still have a lot to do, don't you?" she reasoned. "Maybe another time?"

"No," he said decisively. "I'm done."

"What do you mean you're-"

"Kāja."

The realization swept over her features quickly enough upon hearing their safeword and her doe eyes widened in disbelief. "Hiei… where is this coming from?"

"Our arrangement was a needless waste of time," he said. "At least for me. I'll never love someone the way you're so determined to with your psychic."

"You can't possibly mean that."

"I do," he lied. Because it was far easier to throw his guard up than face his warring emotions. He hardened his expression and fixed his gaze on the ferry-girl. "I'm not suited for such sentimentalities."

"Then why did you even agree to this in the first place?"

Hiei thought back to that night near the riverbank. That wistful look in Botan's eyes; the yearning within her that he would never be able to fulfill. She had wanted experience. She wanted to be ready and worthy of the psychic and Hiei would give her just about anything, even if it meant tearing his own heart out and spilling its blood in the process. The fact that he was allowed to have her in all the ways he couldn't, even just for a short while, was worth the hurt now.

"I did it for you, woman," he revealed plainly. "You know that I find it difficult to deny you."

Botan inhaled a shaky breath. Hiei couldn't understand why she looked so sad when she finally had what she desired. He ignored the regret building in his chest as he went on.

"Seeing as you've already gotten what you wanted, there's little sense in continuing," he finished.

Confusion twisted her features. "What are you talking about?"

"I saw you with Yuro."

"Whatever it is you thought you saw was wrong. We were just talking!"

"It doesn't matter," he replied. There was no mistaking the fact that the two were in orbit and would find their way to each other soon enough. There was no room for Hiei in this story. He was foolish to think otherwise. "I've made my choice."

Botan's gaze searched his pleadingly. Whatever she was looking for wouldn't be found. Not within him.

"Alright," she surrendered. "If that's what you want, then it's over. I'm sorry that I dragged you into all of this."

"Don't apologize," he replied. And he meant it. He was the only one to blame for his current misery. "The decision was mine. I don't regret it, woman."

Botan's expression went through a myriad of emotions - all too quickly for Hiei to really understand. She bowed her head, bangs obscuring her eyes. "W-well, I should go. Goodbye Hiei."

The ferry-girl brushed past him and without looking back.

Hiei made no move to stop her, despite every cell in his being fighting to be by the woman's side. Instead, he did what he should have done all along.

He let her go.