Sherkoni - Wat ^ minna-san! Yay- eh! Jest Kidding.... ^^o
LadyWater1020 - Aw, thanx! And this chapter you will see more of the 'lovey-dovey'!
Skitzo-phrenick - Thank you! (Again) And I had to restrain myself to not letting Hiei kiss her, but they might get a little more lip action this chapter! ~_^
hieiandbotan4ever - Heh, heh, didn't did it? Well virgin drinker + lazy author = She gets drunk fast! Thanks again!
Mallory - Thank you, I appreciate that you take time to review at like every chapter - u rock! I'm glad you like my story! *grins and does peace sign*
SSj3-Vegeta-56001 - Thank you so much, and I will go read your stories now, I really do like them! And what'd ya mean Botan's fickle? I mean, she is, but seems to me that a certain Vegeta was flirting with a certain Juri in your story.... JK! ^^o
DigiQueen-Sinceramon - I feel so honored that my fics make you happy when you are sad! This chappy has extra fluff (maybe a little lip action) so I hope that you will enjoy this one a lot!
Somnus - Thank you, short, sweet and extremely complimenting - You rock!
Crazy nixie - Okay - Okay - Okay! ^^o
Hakusho009 - Yeah me too, here it is - fast as I can go! (Yes, I know...sad.)
Moonlight Goddess - Hey thanx for telling me you left at a certain part, that makes me feel all good inside! O_o;; Well that was weird.... Thanks again - hope you enjoy!
Chapter 6
Everything's Hiei's Fault
Botan groaned. Where was she? Oh yeah, in bed. Where else would she be in the morning?
Struggling slightly, she forced her eyes open a little and lifted her head up.
Botan's POV
Whoa! Bad idea! Ouch, damn, my head feels like it has a basketball bouncing inside of it! A twenty pound basketball....
What happened? The last thing I remember is leaving with Hiei to go to that party for our mission. Wait...party?
"Hiei!" I cried, sitting upright in an instant. Oh, that was stupid, I thought groaning as I flopped back down on my pillows.
Nero's dark face slowly came swimming into my vision.
"Good morning sleeping beauty," he said smoothly. "Or should I say, good afternoon?"
I groaned. "What time is it?"
"A little after one."
"Oh no I missed school!" I cried, trying again to get up, but Nero held on to my shoulders.
He chuckled. "It's Saturday love."
I blushed. "Oh...right."
I sat up, this time more slowly. My head was still pounding, but it was at least tolerable.
"Hey! You finally woke up!" a loud voice called, coming into the room.
I smiled. "Hey Yusuke."
Kurama, Hiei and Keiko walked in behind him
"Oh Botan, you poor thing!" Keiko said, rushing over to sit by me on my bed. "Are you in pain?"
I snorted. "That's the understatement of the year - I feel like my brain is being snow-plowed!"
Yusuke, Nero and Hiei snickered.
I frowned. "What, may I ask, is so funny?"
Yusuke gave me cocky grin. "You've never been drunk before have you?"
I turned red. "No, actually, I haven't! And you have Hiei to thank for this wonderful 'first-time'!"
Hiei scowled. "It is not my fault you went and got yourself drunk; anyone with half a brain knows not to take drinks at parties like that."
"Hey, the only thing I drank was....um..." I stuttered, trying to remember what I drank. Let's see - kid with weird orange glasses hands me a drink that tasted like - oh yeah! "Some rotten fruit punch!"
Suddenly everyone started laughing, even Kurama and Keiko were giggling politely.
"What!?!"
Nero laughed harder and sat down by me. "Just get some rest, alright? We have to go take care of these Tiluka characters.....well Youko does."
Kurama shot Hiei a dirty look. "Yes, why is that Hiei?"
"Er.." Hiei shifted uncomfortably under Kurama's glare.
"Uh-huh, that's what I thought you said." Kurama said casually, pushing him out the door. "See you in a few Nero."
Keiko hurriedly hopped off the bed. "Well lets go then Yusuke!"
"What? Wh-"
Keiko lightly shoved him in the stomach and led him out the door.
"Hey that hurt you know...."
Keiko giggled.
I sighed. I wanted to be in love like them, complete opposites - always contradicting each other, yet flowing beautifully together. True love.....not just some good-looking crush.
"Botan?"
I snapped out of my daze of thought. "Hm?"
Nero smirked. "Thought I'd lost ya there. . . . Get better soon....for me, alright?" he said softly before pulling out a beautiful, purple flower - mostly likely from the Makai. He leaned down to kiss me on the cheek and placed the flower in my hands.
His soft, light lips felt warm on my cheek and I blushed a deep crimson. "T-Thanks..."
He smiled one last time and left after Hiei and Kurama.
Normal POV
IN AN ALLEY:
A tall, elegant figure leaned impatiently against the wall. "Stupid lower class, never on time...."
The other dark figure beside him snorted. "What'd you expect Youko? Decency?"
"No, I just find my authentic self is more impatient then I remembered."
The dark figure laughed.
Suddenly, a quick swishing noise was heard and a young ferry girl appeared out of thin air.
"Botan! Don't do that!"
Botan laughed. "Jumpy Nero?"
Nero eyed her wearily. "Well I didn't think so...."
"What are you doing here?" asked a rather agitated Youko.
Botan raised an eyebrow at his cranky behavior. "Well Koenma sent me to give you information."
Nobody saw the three figures creeping into the alley.
"Which is?"
"Well the boss doesn't really believe you're alive, so he sent his lackeys instead."
"So in other words - we can leave?"
There was a pale blue light emitting from one of the figures.
"Well it's up to you-"
"Look out!" cried Youko, finally realizing the attack being sent towards Botan.
Unfortunately, it was about two seconds too late. The blue light hit her back, simultaneously knocking her off her oar. Nero swiftly caught her before she hit the ground.
Youko charged the three attackers, killing the back two in one swift assault. Then he grabbed the first assailant by his neck. "What did you do to her!?"
Choking slightly, the demon laughed. "There's nothing you can do..." he wheezed. "Her mind will be tormented until there is nothing but...emptiness...."
Youko growled and threw him against the wall. He quickly sprinted back to Nero and Botan.
"I don't know what's wrong with her." Nero said worriedly, looking up at him. Botan was shaking violently, her eyes squeezed tight. Suddenly she let out an agonizing scream.
Youko's brow furrowed, they had to do something - and fast.
"I think I know how we can help," he said. "You go tell Koenma what happened." Then without waiting for a reply, Youko scooped Botan up and was off as fast as lightning.
"Wait!" Nero called, but it was too late. He growled. "I don't KNOW what happened."
Hiei's POV
I was in my normal tree, trying to get a little shut-eye. But for some reason, I couldn't sleep. I kept feeling like something was wrong.
Quickly my attention snapped to a fast approaching youkai. It was Kurama's, or Youko's....one of the two. What could he want?
But before I could register any more questions on the matter, something (or someone) collided into me - my air supply completely knocked out of my lungs. I was hung limply over a big stick, flying rapidly through the air - no wait, it wasn't a stick, it was someone's arm!
Finally catching my wind again, I lifted my head to see none other than Kurama, in his fox form.
"Dammit kitsune! What the hell are you doing!" I shouted over the roaring wind.
He shot me a 'shut-up-and-quit-griping' look. I fell silent, not because of his hard glare, but because of the other passenger he was carrying. A shaking, white Botan.
He seemed to sense my concern and so tried to explain the situation to me. "She has a poisoned mind Hiei. You have to use your Jagan to help purify it."
I sighed in relief. One of the only healing techniques I knew how to do with my Jagan is purifying poisoned minds.
"Lets go to your house," I said gruffly.
He didn't need to say anything, just nod and quicken his pace.
We were at his house in no time flat, and Botan was now lying on Kurama's bed.
"Leave and shut off the lights." I commanded. "I need as much isolation as possible."
He nodded quickly and reached into his pocket. "Give this to her when your done, it's a energy healing potion." Then he left without another word.
I put it in my pocket silently, he was more confident I could do this then I was.
Botan let out a piercing scream, tears streaming down her face. I grasped her flailing hands tightly. "Botan! Please concentrate on me!"
She opened her eyes slightly. She gasped quickly in short bursts of air. "H-Hiei!" she coughed out.
"Focus on me...." I whispered, holding her head in hands. The shaking subdued to a light shiver, and though her eyes looked crazed and unfocused, she kept them open and didn't scream. Now was my chance.
I opened my Jagan and entered her mind. I had never felt this much torment and remorse in my life. It struggled to overwhelm my mind as well. But it wasn't taking me, and it sure as hell wasn't taking Botan. Using all of my energy I fought the strange poison down until it was nothing more than a speck.
Breaking out of our mind link, I collapsed on Botan.
Normal POV
Botan was too weak herself to hold up Hiei and crumpled under his weight.
It was two hours later before either of them even stirred from their sleeping position. But finally, Botan awoke to find Hiei's sleeping form, half on top of her and half on her right side.
"Hiei?" she murmured looking over at his face. 'He's so peaceful when he's sleeping,' she thought. She reached up and brushed his inky hair out of his eyes, before sleep over took her again. "Thanks...."
One Hour Later
Hiei groaned and sat up, holding his head. "What happened?"
Then he looked at the sleeping form of Botan by his side. "Botan...."
Suddenly, a slight lump in his pocket reminded him of the potion Kurama gave him. He gave Botan's shoulder a slight shake.
"Wake up onna."
She groaned and lazily opened one eye."Wha- wherami?" she mumbled.
"You need to take this potion."
"Hiei? Hiei!" Botan cried latching unto him. "Thank you so much, you have no idea! I had never been so angry, sad and scared in my life! Oh, the relief I felt as soon as you....you know - and I never want to go through that again!"
"Botan, calm down," he said pulling her off his chest.
Botan looked up at his vermillion eyes, full of reassurance and comfort. She saw his cheeks tint slightly before she realized how close their faces were. But she just stayed there gazing at his eyes. Hiei leaned in slightly, but he paused, blushing more.
Botan gripped his arm tighter. 'Please don't go....' she thought.
She tilted her chin up slightly, just as Hiei leaned his head down. Their lips touched simultaneously.
A swift, electrifying thrill ran right threw Botan's spine. She pulled away quickly and Hiei followed suit - blushing furiously. Botan touched her lips slightly, he had such firm, serene lips.
"Umm...."
"Here." he said quickly, thrusting the potion in her hands. "Don't drink it all at once." Then he left quickly out of the room.
Botan fiddled with it in her hands. She was scaring herself, she shouldn't have such a reaction to such a brief touch. Especially not Hiei's touch. And what was worse, she found herself actually wishing they had a real kiss. 'Damn! I am turning into a really lustful girl, because it isn't love..... I think.' she thought. Then she rolled her eyes, this was making her brain hurt.
She quickly drank the potion and was asleep within minutes.
Botan awoke feeling much better. She kept her eyes closed taking in her surroundings. She was in the bed with the covers on top of her and pillows underneath her head - it was a nice change. 'Hiei must've moved me.' she thought.
She opened her eyes to see him sitting on Kurama's dresser, chopping at a piece of wood with his sword. She sat up. "I didn't know you could whittle."
He started and quickly shoved his project behind him. "I don't.....really." he said quickly.
"Uh-huh, then what were you doing?" Botan joked.
Hiei glared at her. "It's none of your business onna, so but out!"
"Aw c'mon! Let me see it!" she whined hopping out of bed, trying to reach behind him.
Hiei held her off with his spare hand. "Dammit onna, no!"
She laughed. "Just let me see it!"
Then she jumped on top of him and tried to get behind him. He had to use his other hand(holding the project) to stop her and tackle her to the bed. He grinned. "When I say no, I mean no."
Botan whimpered. "Hiei, you hurt me."
Hiei frowned, his face softening. "I-"
"Psyche!" she yelled and dove under his arm reaching the wooden item on the dresser.
"No!" he yelled, but it was too late, she had already looked at it.
She gasped. "It's, it's me."
Indeed in her hands she held a smaller version of herself.
Botan's POV
It looked exactly like me, it was beautifully carven. Only...this couldn't be me. I mean, it was, but this was a different Botan. Her features were soft and beautiful, her eyes were more lovely then mine really were, and her hair was soft and flowing - like an angel's. My real hair didn't do that.
I laughed softly. "I look a little different."
Hiei walked over to me and studied his art. "Sorry, I did the best I could." he said sarcastically, then his voice turned serious. "You are a little prettier in person."
I blushed. He didn't realize the compliment he just gave me.
Sherkoni - Aw, how sweet! Just to warn you, there will be much more Nero - Botan fluff. Nobody kill me! (But there will be cuter Hiei - Botan fluff! ^^)
If you can't wait till the next update, go read my other story, The White Rose! ~_^