Perrararii - Oh man, that was a long wait..Heh..(nervous smile)
Sherkoni - (pulling on hair) Who is it! This is killing me! Is it Brittian? Emily?!
Perrararii - (shakes head) You're a head case.
Sherkoni - And you're not?
Perrararii - I'm not denying it. n.n;;
----------------------------
Chapter 6
He's the What?! (Hiei's Fiancee)
"Well I can't be THAT bad!" Kurama protested as he and Hiei sauntered casually down the streets of town. Hiei snickered loudly, basking in the misery of the fox demon. Then casually, he gave a comforting pat on the back. Kurama couldn't decide whether it was sincere, or mocking.
An hour and a half of their precious time was gone. Vanished, forgotten, deceased! Wasted away to the past! They now had two hours and 27 minutes to find a girl for Hiei. Their time had been spent on carrying a dead-weight, fainted Keiko up three flights of stairs to Kurama's huge bed.
Then they had to wake the servant girl up. That happened to be easier said than done. The defiant maid appeared to have a problem with being awoken by a nice cold bucket of chilling water, thus not only drenching herself, but the crimson spread sheet as well. She also seemed to have issues with being forced and threatened in pretending to love some guy whom she'd rather enjoy killing - NOT kissing! The two princes struggled on restraining the ferocious girl. Who came out the least scathed is hard to say. However, they were able to leave her tied to the fancy bed post.
So now, unbeknownst to Hiei, Kurama was running through his mind all sorts of women to find for Hiei's so-called fiancee. The fire demon, on the other hand, was preparing himself for certain doom. Like the slave girl had said, they had no chance finding a girl. Oh Kurama would get his sought after revenge - him having to face the wrath of Koenma.
Each prince continued to walked aimlessly through pushy crowds and rushing streets, despite the odds. Subconsciously, Hiei found himself searching for a familiar tangle of sky-colored hair. Or something. . . anything that could pull out the intriguing peasant girl. Any...thing....
Kurama glanced at his cousin, concern growing slightly at the dazed look on the demon's face. Sure, bored or cold blank expressions were normal, but not this dazed look. This was a glazed over, trance-like, happy expression that showed felicity.
Slowly, Kurama followed the direction of Hiei's gaze, wondering what could keep him preoccupied when such a serious matter had to be taken care of. At the end of the stare bounced a glimpse of whirling blue hair. Hair so vivacious that it looked alive and spell binding. The owner of such hair was a wide eyed young woman passing around flamboyant flowers.
Quickly Kurama realized his mistake and corrected himself. It wasn't a wide-eyed woman. Well it was, but she was more than that. She was a peasant flower girl. THE peasant flower girl. Kurama smirked wickedly.
"Hey Hiei - let's go that way. Those flowers look particularly enticing..."
"Huh? What! No thanks," Hiei claimed, pulling himself out of his trance. "I um...well I personally don't go about town to tuck flowers in my hair. As to be mistaken for a girl," he taunted mercilessly. Self consciously, Kurama reached a hand up to touch the silken strands of his own unruly hair and silently vowed to do something with them.
"Who said I was referring to that type of flower. I was talking about the type you are in need of," Kurama stated elegantly, flourishing with his hands.
Hiei gazed at him with amused disbelief. "And that would be?" An eyebrow quirked curiously.
"Why, my dear cousin!" Kurama gasped as if seemingly aghast at the question. "What would you do without me to-"
"I'd live a peaceful life," Hiei interrupted with a grumble.
"-to help you," Kurama continued, sending Hiei a stern look,"find a fiancee!"
Hiei groaned, as if suddenly remembering his current situation.
Kurama grinned happily as Hiei rolled his eyes in dismay, looking around for the azure-haired beauty he had spotted minutes before. "Since you had the pleasure of burdening us with such a trivial task of all of this, then I get to choose your intended!"
Hiei simply shrugged with a dismal expression.
"Hm...nope - too fat, too skinny.. Ugh, talk about needing a beautician check up. How about not. Too dirty, desperate..." Kurama continued in a torrent of words, pretending to look fervently through the streets, utterly confusing his cousin. Hiei was still trying to spot the first two contestants! Suddenly, the sly grin Kurama had adopted some time ago, widened. "Aha! Perfect!" To Hiei's horror, Kurama headed straight towards the peasant flower girl he had encountered earlier.
"Hello, miss. May I have a word with you?" Botan heard a deep voice question. She looked up in surprise at the formality of the tone, wondering who in Makai they were referring to. There in front of her stood a handsome red-head, mischief glinted emerald eyes and an arrogant smile.
"Me?" she questioned dreamily, looking behind her. The man nodded and gently took hold of her elbow, expertly tucking it under his own. She tried not to be flattered - he seemed too high maintenance to be her type....but still...
"You see, ma'am, I was wondering if you could uh...do this teensy little favor for me tonight?" the gorgeous red-head asked, sending an adorable look of pleading towards her.
"Of cou- er....I mean, why not? Sure. What is it?" She tried to remain calm and even attempted at narrowing her eyes in suspicion. Kurama almost laughed at the attempt.
Meanwhile, Hiei stood in the background, glaring at his cousin as he subtly flirted with the object of the fire demon's thoughts. The involuntary thoughts of, How dare he! She was his! seemed to flutter absently through his mind. Without mind, the warrior stepped towards the 'pair', until he glanced at Kurama's face which glared harshly as the fox demon shook his head in warning.
"Well, you...I'm having this thing for dinner and it's at the palace tonight. And well, I was kind of, well I've been watching you for the past little while," Kurama tried to look sheepish while wondering if 30 seconds counted as a while. Botan wondered to herself how long 'a little while' was. "..and you see, I was kind of wondering, hoping, you would..." he stopped, looking to Botan as if he were slightly nervous, endearing her to him even more. Though in all honesty, he only did it to add suspense to his act. "Um, could a lovely young lady such as yourself possibly spare the evening to attend a dinner with," Botan smiled to herself, ready to comply to the charming man, "my cousin?"
Botan glanced up in surprise and tried to hide bitter disappointment. She had been planning on saying yes before he'd even uttered the beginning of his sentence. She'd have loved to spend the evening with THIS charming gentleman. What if his cousin was some fat, poor-mannered idiot who couldn't find a date?!
"Well....oh dear." She paused, trying to think of what could possibly be said. "What's your cousin like?" She gazed up at him with innocence. Kurama's thoughts flickered for a moment as he briefly wondered if he should trade girls, the thought was appealing..
Well it was. Until, however, he thought of the fiery Keiko.
No, he didn't think we would.
Besides, judging by the possessive moody glares Hiei was sending, the fox demon figured he'd be darkness-flame barbequed before that were to happen. So much for Hiei's "if and only if!"
"Why don't you meet him?" Kurama suggested and spun the girl in a fancy swing, stopping only when they appeared at the feet of the subject of their conversation.
Botan stared a the foreboding figure in front of her, a surprised fluttering taking charge of her emotions as the man glowered at the handsome red-head beside her. He wore the same black button-up, same though somewhat dirtier riding pants and the sinister expression chilling his face was similar to the one she had received earlier. But it couldn't be him! Still, he gave off the same arrogant aura and stood with a regal air surrounding him. The posture appeared the same, feet spread apart, hands shoved into his pockets, but still dark and forbidding. The same usual blaze of light in the midst of the tumble or dark, midnight-black shot hair.
But now the familiar sharp eyes didn't seem to bore into her, showing distaste and attempting to pry into her mind. Instead that seemingly constant distaste was focused on the man who still held her elbow tightly, as if willing her not to run away. Though she doubted she could have.
"Ma'am, I present to you, my cousin," the charming stranger announced, waving his hand with an elegant flourish. (1) Botan's gaze followed from one to the other. Cousin? That would mean they were related wouldn't it? No, that didn't appear possible. They were so different! Looks, for one. One had red long hair and an easy smile, then there was the gravity-defying unruly dark hair and the intense frown that cracked the rugged face. Personalities, for another. Gentle and charming, while the other came off as foreboding and rude. Suave and cunning, the latter cruel and paranoid.
"Hiei, meet your date for tonight."
The scarlet eyes flickered towards her momentarily before rolling towards the sky and settling back to stay glued on her innocent face. She smothered a gasp and boldly kept the stare and tried not to flinch under the intense, fire-lit gaze, struggling to ignore the butterflies that seemed to have instantly exited their cocoon inside her stomach.
"Um, excuse me miss," Kurama interrupted their stare-down, "I seem to be having a problem with names today, but could you possibly give me yours?"
"No.." she managed to choke out in a surprisingly firm voice, having to voice her thoughts to keep herself from temptation. Even though she still felt like melting under the eyes of the man before her.
"No you won't give me your name?" Kurama asked, clearly puzzled at her answer. He raised an eyebrow and tried again to get the attention of the preoccupied couple. He waved a hand in front of the young girl's face.
"I'm sorry, what?" the girl shook her head her head dazedly as the deep voice cut through her thoughts and both she and the dark man broke their gaze in unison.
"What's your name?" he asked again irritably.
"Oh..er, Botan."
"Alright, beautiful name for a beautiful lady, let's go then," Kurama said pleasantly and once again tucked her elbow within his own.
"No!" she shrugged out of his hold. Both demons turned to her in disbelief.
"What?" they asked in unison, incredulous at such boldness.
"No, I'm not going," she replied simply and calmly as if she were speaking to toddlers.
"What? You can't do that!" Kurama struggled to keep his jaw from dropping. She wasn't supposed to do that! She...couldn't....
"Yes I can! You are not in charge of me." Her chin rose in defiance. Both princes looked at each other.
"Well actually-"
"You did say you'd do me a favor," Kurama pleaded, glancing a Hiei, urging him to be quiet.
"I said I would do you a favor. I never said anything about this insolent chunk of protoplasm."
"Insolent chunk of protoplasm?" Hiei sputtered, wrestling for an insult that could fulfill how he viewed her - wait, protoplasm?! Kurama reached an arm in between the two, to once again conclude Hiei's temper before it surely flared.
"How attractive. She has clever insults too..." Kurama sighed, before raising an eyebrow. "You haven't met him, you have no room to accuse him of being-"
"Actually, I have. We, or should I say, he ran into me this morning and you could, at the very least, say he was an insensitive jerk!" Botan explained, her voice filled with bitterness.
"Hiei," Kurama groaned in chiding, rolling his eyes.
"She snapped at me first!" Hiei defended himself again.
"I what? I did not!"
Kurama took a step further between the arguing duo. "This doesn't matter, you're coming with us," Kurama stated.
"No!"
"As if you have a choice," Hiei warned lightly.
"I will NOT spend my evening with an arrogant cockroach!" Botan's face screwed up in anger and disgust.
Hiei rolled his eyes. "We're not giving you-"
"Hiei just order her to!" Kurama suggested impatiently.
"Huh?" Hiei looked away from the flower saler in question, until realization of his rank dawned once again. He smirked. "I order you then, Botan, to come with us."
Botan snorted. "That doesn't mean anything to me," she said, folding her arms in rebellion and searched for an escape route.
"Botan, sweetheart, by order of the prince means you have to," Kurama informed her with a smirk.
"I am not- by order of the who?" She fingered her hair nervously.
"The prince." he repeated and she rolled her eyes impatiently.
"The prince has nothing to do with this petty matter, I doubt he would even care-"
"Who do you think Hiei is? A bedding maid? He's the prince!"
"He's the WHAT?!" she shrieked, her voice shrill.
"He is Prince Hiei," Kurama repeated, enunciating the last two words. She looked from one to another in horror.
"Th-then that would make you-" she stopped, barely daring to think it.
"Prince Kurama. And indeed it is a pleasure," he smiled pleasantly.
"Then, I-I fantasized about a prince? I fought with one and then I tried not to..." she faded out, becoming increasingly embarrassed with each passing moment as she replayed her thoughts from the last day. Her ending left Hiei in suspense, tried not to what? And who exactly had she fantasized about?
"And now, just think about it! You're going to have dinner with them," Kurama added cheerily and in an instant, before the young girl could argue, Botan's world turned upside down as he threw her over his shoulder. Mumbling an apology, the demon waltzed down the street, the crowd parting in bewildered interest as their future ruler walked up towards the palace, the girl on his back screaming loudly and Hiei lagging behind. His previous mischievous smirk faded into a jealous scowl.
oo
Keiko spat the last bit of frayed rope from her dry mouth and angrily stood up, rubbing her sore wrists. That little PRAT! Okay, so now he was the handsome tall prat - but still! How dare he tie her up like she was some type of pet!
"Put me down!"
Keiko jumped at the sudden cry and dived off the bed and stumbled out of the room to the indoor balcony, searching for the source of the feminine cry. Sure enough, there stood the two demon princes, and -Keiko's breath caught- a pretty young woman tossed carelessly on Kurama's back. Had he found another fiancee? She tried to convince herself that the pang she felt was relief, not disappointment. Then she realized that the girl did NOT want to be flung over some guy's shoulder and was flailing violently, actually putting up a fair fight that even Keiko looked upon in admiration, until (to avoid further injury) Kurama dumped the blue-haired girl unceremoniously where she clumsily bounced on her butt.
"Ow! Hey!"
Kurama gave his cousin a cocky smirk. "She's your problem now. Oh and Botan, I really am sorry about all this - but it is an emergency." He flashed a heart stopping grin and turned away, heading for the twirling stairs. He paused as a brief glance of auburn caught his eye. An anticipated smile passed over his lips, like a predator finally spotting his game. "I sort of figured you'd get out of that."
Keiko glared at him form her perch at the top of the stairs before wheeling around and rushing down the hall out of sight. Kurama sighed in exhaustion and sent Hiei a look of dejection. "Wish me luck.." he grumbled, starting up the long set of stairs to chase after his defiant maid.
Hiei watched him leave for a moment before peering down at the disarrayed woman sprawled across the floor. "How long does it normally take you to get off the floor?"
Botan flushed in embarrassment before hastily clambering to her feet. Avoiding the red eyes following her movement, she brushed her skirt off, trying to forget her brief glance of the beautiful girl she had watched Kurama chase after - no wonder Prince Hiei was so reluctant to use her. Still staring at the floor, Botan slowly inhaled, trying to calm her jittery insides. "Look, I think we should talk about this-"
"Yes, I agree. Come," Hiei commanded, roughly taking her hand and leading (or should we say dragging?) her through nameless corridor after corridor. She had to skip awkwardly to keep up with his quick pace, concentrating on not tripping while his strong grasp pulled her along in whatever direction he favored.
She tried to remain only vaguely aware of his warm weapon-calloused hand that was intertwined with her own. Unfortunately, she failed and felt her heart slowly begin to accelerate. As soon as they stepped outside into an elaborate garden scene, a left was taken, then two rights and finally, Hiei stopped. Botan immediately pulled back, releasing her hand, blushing slightly.
Hiei didn't appear to notice her withdrawal and made his way to an ornate stone bench, calmly taking a seat. "Sit," he ordered hastily. Intimidated by the sharpness of the dark prince, she obeyed. Glancing at the serious demon, she slid down the bench, assuring herself that there was a sufficient amount of distance between them.
"Well," she began, speaking slowly and carefully. "I guess we should discuss this whole situation."
Hiei nodded curtly. "Yes. We should probably figure out how we met, when I proposed...things that will make in more convincing..."
"What?! I meant discuss how I can't possibly do this!"
Hiei's eyes narrowed warningly. "I believe we have already discussed that. You have no choice."
"Wait a minute!" Botan quipped, as if she hadn't heard him, placing a hand on her forehead. "You proposed? That would mean you and I would be like...like.." she didn't dare say it.
"Engaged? Yes, that IS the whole point of this. Kurama and I have to pretend to be engaged-"
"But, but," she was speechless. What was she supposed to say? He was kidding, this was just dinner... But her gut reminded her that he didn't really seem the type to "kid". She felt herself begin to hyperventilate. "Why me then?! You can have any duchess or whatever! Why settle for a meaningless peasant, right?"
Hiei leaned forward, his face set in the taut lines of his usual frown, still handsome nonetheless. Lightly, almost in a caress, he fingered her chin. Slowly, he tilted her face upward and began to inch closer, diminishing the space she had so carefully set between them, piercing crimson eyes burning into hers.
By the time the pair was mere inches apart, Botan started to panic. What's he doing?! her mind frantically raced, her heart beating out of her chest while a light flush rinsed over her cheeks. Oh cheese on rye! I think he's going to kiss me! Oh dear mother of peppermint patties! Oh picadillies! What am supposed to do?! She was just beginning to assure herself of the validity of her assumption when he roughly turned her head to the side, his gaze hot and unmoving as he looked at her. (2)
Lightly, Hiei ran his fingers through the silken bits of sky before bringing his fingers down to tenderly trace her features. She was slowly becoming accustomed to his demanding touch (even though her cheeks continued their steady incline of red) when it suddenly stopped, pausing in the moment. Hiei sat back again, reluctantly letting his hand drop, a look of contentment softening his face. "You'll do."
Botan flushed in anger. Had he been examining her?!
"You could probably pass as a duchess," he continued smoothly. "But we'll have to get rid of that awful dress...and do something with your hair. Teach you to walk with you shoulders back and spine straight, slow and graceful..." Botan watched curiously as the Princes's hand moved elegantly to demonstrate his point. The couple ended up falling into each other's eyes, yet again, until Hiei regained his senses and looked away. In order to cover up his moment of, what he considered a weakness, he crinkled his nose in distaste. "And you'll need a bath. You smell like peasant."
The blue-haired girl blushed momentarily in embarrassment before glaring angrily. Furious, she bound up and placed her hands on her hips. "Excuse me?"
Hiei smirked, "Don't take it personally or offensively. Those are fixable errors."
Botan's anger sparked, fixable errors? She was a fixable error to him no doubt. In spite of her rage, she was able to casually adopt a sarcastic face. "Yes, it must be exceedingly hard for you to deal with so many non-fixable errors."
"That was very brave," Hiei said softly, his voice gruff and dangerous. His red eyes glinted with growing fury.
"Well you must have realized by now, that unlike pampered royalty, I'M not a coward," she replied, her tone edged with ice and her sentence implying more than said.
In a flash, the cold edge of an intricate blade was pressed against her slender throat, sharply digging into her smooth skin. "Do not ever imply that I am a coward again. Or I may be forced to prove otherwise."
Botan bit her tongue to keep herself from showing further weakness and screaming. AS her teeth painfully sliced her tongue, she tasted the salty iron of blood in her mouth and she couldn't stop the fear that flooded her being as the blade rested on her neck. Despite the haughty desire to remain strong and unfrightened of him, a whimper escaped her throat, pale rose-colored eyes shining with unshed tears.
Hiei watched as definite terror creased into the girl's usually unmarked face. Immediately, remorse took place of his anger and he inwardly cursed the nasty temper that had driven such actions.
Gently, as to not cause more damage, he tilted her chin up with the sword edge. Swallowing uneasily, part from nervousness that he would never admit and part from guilt he didn't wish to feel and normally didn't, he tried to form words. He had never once, apologize to..anyone. He had never wanted to, or felt guilty enough to - well, not enough to swallow his ever present pride and actually do it.
The peasant girl glanced up at him, still scared of the still existing blade on her neck. Instantly the fear melted, washed away as she saw the bitter regret in his sorrowful eyes. The concern on his face was etched into a nervous, timid frown, his soft eyes deepened with guilt. The crimson pools were just screaming, "I'm sorry, okay?!" The former flower girl smiled in spite of herself. He looked so adorable like that...
Lightly, she nudged the blade away from the edge of her chin, her finger lingering on the swift, light blade, somehow knowing it was no longer a threat. Her kind features were painted with sympathy and filled with understanding. "Apology accepted," she said simply, her voice soft, and to the Prince, musical.
She managed not to laugh as surprise passed across his face, eyebrow rising in bewilderment. She silently giggled, and made a vow to make him surprised again - if just to see that expression. He was handsome if he wasn't scowling at the world, in fact....he was dead sexy.
Hiei didn't, couldn't, say anything - he barely managed the small nod he managed to give. She had read him like a book! Nobody could do that, nobody - not even Kurama. He didn't know if he should be angry or relieved...or surprised. How had he only met her today when she seemed to know him so well? She was definitely....different.
-----------------------------
Sherkoni - (passes out from typing so much)
Perrararii - Such a baby. JK! Hehe...
1 - Hiei fangirls, don't we all wish we were her? (Anime tears)
2 - We REALLY wish we were her. X.X;;
Perrararii - Oh and if you don't know what picadillies are, don't sweat it.
Sherkoni - It's a hic thing. Yay for hicness! (Grabs a cowboy hat)
Perrararii - It's the country term for english chips. (Eats a handful)
Sherkoni - (pulling on hair) Who is it! This is killing me! Is it Brittian? Emily?!
Perrararii - (shakes head) You're a head case.
Sherkoni - And you're not?
Perrararii - I'm not denying it. n.n;;
----------------------------
Chapter 6
He's the What?! (Hiei's Fiancee)
"Well I can't be THAT bad!" Kurama protested as he and Hiei sauntered casually down the streets of town. Hiei snickered loudly, basking in the misery of the fox demon. Then casually, he gave a comforting pat on the back. Kurama couldn't decide whether it was sincere, or mocking.
An hour and a half of their precious time was gone. Vanished, forgotten, deceased! Wasted away to the past! They now had two hours and 27 minutes to find a girl for Hiei. Their time had been spent on carrying a dead-weight, fainted Keiko up three flights of stairs to Kurama's huge bed.
Then they had to wake the servant girl up. That happened to be easier said than done. The defiant maid appeared to have a problem with being awoken by a nice cold bucket of chilling water, thus not only drenching herself, but the crimson spread sheet as well. She also seemed to have issues with being forced and threatened in pretending to love some guy whom she'd rather enjoy killing - NOT kissing! The two princes struggled on restraining the ferocious girl. Who came out the least scathed is hard to say. However, they were able to leave her tied to the fancy bed post.
So now, unbeknownst to Hiei, Kurama was running through his mind all sorts of women to find for Hiei's so-called fiancee. The fire demon, on the other hand, was preparing himself for certain doom. Like the slave girl had said, they had no chance finding a girl. Oh Kurama would get his sought after revenge - him having to face the wrath of Koenma.
Each prince continued to walked aimlessly through pushy crowds and rushing streets, despite the odds. Subconsciously, Hiei found himself searching for a familiar tangle of sky-colored hair. Or something. . . anything that could pull out the intriguing peasant girl. Any...thing....
Kurama glanced at his cousin, concern growing slightly at the dazed look on the demon's face. Sure, bored or cold blank expressions were normal, but not this dazed look. This was a glazed over, trance-like, happy expression that showed felicity.
Slowly, Kurama followed the direction of Hiei's gaze, wondering what could keep him preoccupied when such a serious matter had to be taken care of. At the end of the stare bounced a glimpse of whirling blue hair. Hair so vivacious that it looked alive and spell binding. The owner of such hair was a wide eyed young woman passing around flamboyant flowers.
Quickly Kurama realized his mistake and corrected himself. It wasn't a wide-eyed woman. Well it was, but she was more than that. She was a peasant flower girl. THE peasant flower girl. Kurama smirked wickedly.
"Hey Hiei - let's go that way. Those flowers look particularly enticing..."
"Huh? What! No thanks," Hiei claimed, pulling himself out of his trance. "I um...well I personally don't go about town to tuck flowers in my hair. As to be mistaken for a girl," he taunted mercilessly. Self consciously, Kurama reached a hand up to touch the silken strands of his own unruly hair and silently vowed to do something with them.
"Who said I was referring to that type of flower. I was talking about the type you are in need of," Kurama stated elegantly, flourishing with his hands.
Hiei gazed at him with amused disbelief. "And that would be?" An eyebrow quirked curiously.
"Why, my dear cousin!" Kurama gasped as if seemingly aghast at the question. "What would you do without me to-"
"I'd live a peaceful life," Hiei interrupted with a grumble.
"-to help you," Kurama continued, sending Hiei a stern look,"find a fiancee!"
Hiei groaned, as if suddenly remembering his current situation.
Kurama grinned happily as Hiei rolled his eyes in dismay, looking around for the azure-haired beauty he had spotted minutes before. "Since you had the pleasure of burdening us with such a trivial task of all of this, then I get to choose your intended!"
Hiei simply shrugged with a dismal expression.
"Hm...nope - too fat, too skinny.. Ugh, talk about needing a beautician check up. How about not. Too dirty, desperate..." Kurama continued in a torrent of words, pretending to look fervently through the streets, utterly confusing his cousin. Hiei was still trying to spot the first two contestants! Suddenly, the sly grin Kurama had adopted some time ago, widened. "Aha! Perfect!" To Hiei's horror, Kurama headed straight towards the peasant flower girl he had encountered earlier.
"Hello, miss. May I have a word with you?" Botan heard a deep voice question. She looked up in surprise at the formality of the tone, wondering who in Makai they were referring to. There in front of her stood a handsome red-head, mischief glinted emerald eyes and an arrogant smile.
"Me?" she questioned dreamily, looking behind her. The man nodded and gently took hold of her elbow, expertly tucking it under his own. She tried not to be flattered - he seemed too high maintenance to be her type....but still...
"You see, ma'am, I was wondering if you could uh...do this teensy little favor for me tonight?" the gorgeous red-head asked, sending an adorable look of pleading towards her.
"Of cou- er....I mean, why not? Sure. What is it?" She tried to remain calm and even attempted at narrowing her eyes in suspicion. Kurama almost laughed at the attempt.
Meanwhile, Hiei stood in the background, glaring at his cousin as he subtly flirted with the object of the fire demon's thoughts. The involuntary thoughts of, How dare he! She was his! seemed to flutter absently through his mind. Without mind, the warrior stepped towards the 'pair', until he glanced at Kurama's face which glared harshly as the fox demon shook his head in warning.
"Well, you...I'm having this thing for dinner and it's at the palace tonight. And well, I was kind of, well I've been watching you for the past little while," Kurama tried to look sheepish while wondering if 30 seconds counted as a while. Botan wondered to herself how long 'a little while' was. "..and you see, I was kind of wondering, hoping, you would..." he stopped, looking to Botan as if he were slightly nervous, endearing her to him even more. Though in all honesty, he only did it to add suspense to his act. "Um, could a lovely young lady such as yourself possibly spare the evening to attend a dinner with," Botan smiled to herself, ready to comply to the charming man, "my cousin?"
Botan glanced up in surprise and tried to hide bitter disappointment. She had been planning on saying yes before he'd even uttered the beginning of his sentence. She'd have loved to spend the evening with THIS charming gentleman. What if his cousin was some fat, poor-mannered idiot who couldn't find a date?!
"Well....oh dear." She paused, trying to think of what could possibly be said. "What's your cousin like?" She gazed up at him with innocence. Kurama's thoughts flickered for a moment as he briefly wondered if he should trade girls, the thought was appealing..
Well it was. Until, however, he thought of the fiery Keiko.
No, he didn't think we would.
Besides, judging by the possessive moody glares Hiei was sending, the fox demon figured he'd be darkness-flame barbequed before that were to happen. So much for Hiei's "if and only if!"
"Why don't you meet him?" Kurama suggested and spun the girl in a fancy swing, stopping only when they appeared at the feet of the subject of their conversation.
Botan stared a the foreboding figure in front of her, a surprised fluttering taking charge of her emotions as the man glowered at the handsome red-head beside her. He wore the same black button-up, same though somewhat dirtier riding pants and the sinister expression chilling his face was similar to the one she had received earlier. But it couldn't be him! Still, he gave off the same arrogant aura and stood with a regal air surrounding him. The posture appeared the same, feet spread apart, hands shoved into his pockets, but still dark and forbidding. The same usual blaze of light in the midst of the tumble or dark, midnight-black shot hair.
But now the familiar sharp eyes didn't seem to bore into her, showing distaste and attempting to pry into her mind. Instead that seemingly constant distaste was focused on the man who still held her elbow tightly, as if willing her not to run away. Though she doubted she could have.
"Ma'am, I present to you, my cousin," the charming stranger announced, waving his hand with an elegant flourish. (1) Botan's gaze followed from one to the other. Cousin? That would mean they were related wouldn't it? No, that didn't appear possible. They were so different! Looks, for one. One had red long hair and an easy smile, then there was the gravity-defying unruly dark hair and the intense frown that cracked the rugged face. Personalities, for another. Gentle and charming, while the other came off as foreboding and rude. Suave and cunning, the latter cruel and paranoid.
"Hiei, meet your date for tonight."
The scarlet eyes flickered towards her momentarily before rolling towards the sky and settling back to stay glued on her innocent face. She smothered a gasp and boldly kept the stare and tried not to flinch under the intense, fire-lit gaze, struggling to ignore the butterflies that seemed to have instantly exited their cocoon inside her stomach.
"Um, excuse me miss," Kurama interrupted their stare-down, "I seem to be having a problem with names today, but could you possibly give me yours?"
"No.." she managed to choke out in a surprisingly firm voice, having to voice her thoughts to keep herself from temptation. Even though she still felt like melting under the eyes of the man before her.
"No you won't give me your name?" Kurama asked, clearly puzzled at her answer. He raised an eyebrow and tried again to get the attention of the preoccupied couple. He waved a hand in front of the young girl's face.
"I'm sorry, what?" the girl shook her head her head dazedly as the deep voice cut through her thoughts and both she and the dark man broke their gaze in unison.
"What's your name?" he asked again irritably.
"Oh..er, Botan."
"Alright, beautiful name for a beautiful lady, let's go then," Kurama said pleasantly and once again tucked her elbow within his own.
"No!" she shrugged out of his hold. Both demons turned to her in disbelief.
"What?" they asked in unison, incredulous at such boldness.
"No, I'm not going," she replied simply and calmly as if she were speaking to toddlers.
"What? You can't do that!" Kurama struggled to keep his jaw from dropping. She wasn't supposed to do that! She...couldn't....
"Yes I can! You are not in charge of me." Her chin rose in defiance. Both princes looked at each other.
"Well actually-"
"You did say you'd do me a favor," Kurama pleaded, glancing a Hiei, urging him to be quiet.
"I said I would do you a favor. I never said anything about this insolent chunk of protoplasm."
"Insolent chunk of protoplasm?" Hiei sputtered, wrestling for an insult that could fulfill how he viewed her - wait, protoplasm?! Kurama reached an arm in between the two, to once again conclude Hiei's temper before it surely flared.
"How attractive. She has clever insults too..." Kurama sighed, before raising an eyebrow. "You haven't met him, you have no room to accuse him of being-"
"Actually, I have. We, or should I say, he ran into me this morning and you could, at the very least, say he was an insensitive jerk!" Botan explained, her voice filled with bitterness.
"Hiei," Kurama groaned in chiding, rolling his eyes.
"She snapped at me first!" Hiei defended himself again.
"I what? I did not!"
Kurama took a step further between the arguing duo. "This doesn't matter, you're coming with us," Kurama stated.
"No!"
"As if you have a choice," Hiei warned lightly.
"I will NOT spend my evening with an arrogant cockroach!" Botan's face screwed up in anger and disgust.
Hiei rolled his eyes. "We're not giving you-"
"Hiei just order her to!" Kurama suggested impatiently.
"Huh?" Hiei looked away from the flower saler in question, until realization of his rank dawned once again. He smirked. "I order you then, Botan, to come with us."
Botan snorted. "That doesn't mean anything to me," she said, folding her arms in rebellion and searched for an escape route.
"Botan, sweetheart, by order of the prince means you have to," Kurama informed her with a smirk.
"I am not- by order of the who?" She fingered her hair nervously.
"The prince." he repeated and she rolled her eyes impatiently.
"The prince has nothing to do with this petty matter, I doubt he would even care-"
"Who do you think Hiei is? A bedding maid? He's the prince!"
"He's the WHAT?!" she shrieked, her voice shrill.
"He is Prince Hiei," Kurama repeated, enunciating the last two words. She looked from one to another in horror.
"Th-then that would make you-" she stopped, barely daring to think it.
"Prince Kurama. And indeed it is a pleasure," he smiled pleasantly.
"Then, I-I fantasized about a prince? I fought with one and then I tried not to..." she faded out, becoming increasingly embarrassed with each passing moment as she replayed her thoughts from the last day. Her ending left Hiei in suspense, tried not to what? And who exactly had she fantasized about?
"And now, just think about it! You're going to have dinner with them," Kurama added cheerily and in an instant, before the young girl could argue, Botan's world turned upside down as he threw her over his shoulder. Mumbling an apology, the demon waltzed down the street, the crowd parting in bewildered interest as their future ruler walked up towards the palace, the girl on his back screaming loudly and Hiei lagging behind. His previous mischievous smirk faded into a jealous scowl.
oo
Keiko spat the last bit of frayed rope from her dry mouth and angrily stood up, rubbing her sore wrists. That little PRAT! Okay, so now he was the handsome tall prat - but still! How dare he tie her up like she was some type of pet!
"Put me down!"
Keiko jumped at the sudden cry and dived off the bed and stumbled out of the room to the indoor balcony, searching for the source of the feminine cry. Sure enough, there stood the two demon princes, and -Keiko's breath caught- a pretty young woman tossed carelessly on Kurama's back. Had he found another fiancee? She tried to convince herself that the pang she felt was relief, not disappointment. Then she realized that the girl did NOT want to be flung over some guy's shoulder and was flailing violently, actually putting up a fair fight that even Keiko looked upon in admiration, until (to avoid further injury) Kurama dumped the blue-haired girl unceremoniously where she clumsily bounced on her butt.
"Ow! Hey!"
Kurama gave his cousin a cocky smirk. "She's your problem now. Oh and Botan, I really am sorry about all this - but it is an emergency." He flashed a heart stopping grin and turned away, heading for the twirling stairs. He paused as a brief glance of auburn caught his eye. An anticipated smile passed over his lips, like a predator finally spotting his game. "I sort of figured you'd get out of that."
Keiko glared at him form her perch at the top of the stairs before wheeling around and rushing down the hall out of sight. Kurama sighed in exhaustion and sent Hiei a look of dejection. "Wish me luck.." he grumbled, starting up the long set of stairs to chase after his defiant maid.
Hiei watched him leave for a moment before peering down at the disarrayed woman sprawled across the floor. "How long does it normally take you to get off the floor?"
Botan flushed in embarrassment before hastily clambering to her feet. Avoiding the red eyes following her movement, she brushed her skirt off, trying to forget her brief glance of the beautiful girl she had watched Kurama chase after - no wonder Prince Hiei was so reluctant to use her. Still staring at the floor, Botan slowly inhaled, trying to calm her jittery insides. "Look, I think we should talk about this-"
"Yes, I agree. Come," Hiei commanded, roughly taking her hand and leading (or should we say dragging?) her through nameless corridor after corridor. She had to skip awkwardly to keep up with his quick pace, concentrating on not tripping while his strong grasp pulled her along in whatever direction he favored.
She tried to remain only vaguely aware of his warm weapon-calloused hand that was intertwined with her own. Unfortunately, she failed and felt her heart slowly begin to accelerate. As soon as they stepped outside into an elaborate garden scene, a left was taken, then two rights and finally, Hiei stopped. Botan immediately pulled back, releasing her hand, blushing slightly.
Hiei didn't appear to notice her withdrawal and made his way to an ornate stone bench, calmly taking a seat. "Sit," he ordered hastily. Intimidated by the sharpness of the dark prince, she obeyed. Glancing at the serious demon, she slid down the bench, assuring herself that there was a sufficient amount of distance between them.
"Well," she began, speaking slowly and carefully. "I guess we should discuss this whole situation."
Hiei nodded curtly. "Yes. We should probably figure out how we met, when I proposed...things that will make in more convincing..."
"What?! I meant discuss how I can't possibly do this!"
Hiei's eyes narrowed warningly. "I believe we have already discussed that. You have no choice."
"Wait a minute!" Botan quipped, as if she hadn't heard him, placing a hand on her forehead. "You proposed? That would mean you and I would be like...like.." she didn't dare say it.
"Engaged? Yes, that IS the whole point of this. Kurama and I have to pretend to be engaged-"
"But, but," she was speechless. What was she supposed to say? He was kidding, this was just dinner... But her gut reminded her that he didn't really seem the type to "kid". She felt herself begin to hyperventilate. "Why me then?! You can have any duchess or whatever! Why settle for a meaningless peasant, right?"
Hiei leaned forward, his face set in the taut lines of his usual frown, still handsome nonetheless. Lightly, almost in a caress, he fingered her chin. Slowly, he tilted her face upward and began to inch closer, diminishing the space she had so carefully set between them, piercing crimson eyes burning into hers.
By the time the pair was mere inches apart, Botan started to panic. What's he doing?! her mind frantically raced, her heart beating out of her chest while a light flush rinsed over her cheeks. Oh cheese on rye! I think he's going to kiss me! Oh dear mother of peppermint patties! Oh picadillies! What am supposed to do?! She was just beginning to assure herself of the validity of her assumption when he roughly turned her head to the side, his gaze hot and unmoving as he looked at her. (2)
Lightly, Hiei ran his fingers through the silken bits of sky before bringing his fingers down to tenderly trace her features. She was slowly becoming accustomed to his demanding touch (even though her cheeks continued their steady incline of red) when it suddenly stopped, pausing in the moment. Hiei sat back again, reluctantly letting his hand drop, a look of contentment softening his face. "You'll do."
Botan flushed in anger. Had he been examining her?!
"You could probably pass as a duchess," he continued smoothly. "But we'll have to get rid of that awful dress...and do something with your hair. Teach you to walk with you shoulders back and spine straight, slow and graceful..." Botan watched curiously as the Princes's hand moved elegantly to demonstrate his point. The couple ended up falling into each other's eyes, yet again, until Hiei regained his senses and looked away. In order to cover up his moment of, what he considered a weakness, he crinkled his nose in distaste. "And you'll need a bath. You smell like peasant."
The blue-haired girl blushed momentarily in embarrassment before glaring angrily. Furious, she bound up and placed her hands on her hips. "Excuse me?"
Hiei smirked, "Don't take it personally or offensively. Those are fixable errors."
Botan's anger sparked, fixable errors? She was a fixable error to him no doubt. In spite of her rage, she was able to casually adopt a sarcastic face. "Yes, it must be exceedingly hard for you to deal with so many non-fixable errors."
"That was very brave," Hiei said softly, his voice gruff and dangerous. His red eyes glinted with growing fury.
"Well you must have realized by now, that unlike pampered royalty, I'M not a coward," she replied, her tone edged with ice and her sentence implying more than said.
In a flash, the cold edge of an intricate blade was pressed against her slender throat, sharply digging into her smooth skin. "Do not ever imply that I am a coward again. Or I may be forced to prove otherwise."
Botan bit her tongue to keep herself from showing further weakness and screaming. AS her teeth painfully sliced her tongue, she tasted the salty iron of blood in her mouth and she couldn't stop the fear that flooded her being as the blade rested on her neck. Despite the haughty desire to remain strong and unfrightened of him, a whimper escaped her throat, pale rose-colored eyes shining with unshed tears.
Hiei watched as definite terror creased into the girl's usually unmarked face. Immediately, remorse took place of his anger and he inwardly cursed the nasty temper that had driven such actions.
Gently, as to not cause more damage, he tilted her chin up with the sword edge. Swallowing uneasily, part from nervousness that he would never admit and part from guilt he didn't wish to feel and normally didn't, he tried to form words. He had never once, apologize to..anyone. He had never wanted to, or felt guilty enough to - well, not enough to swallow his ever present pride and actually do it.
The peasant girl glanced up at him, still scared of the still existing blade on her neck. Instantly the fear melted, washed away as she saw the bitter regret in his sorrowful eyes. The concern on his face was etched into a nervous, timid frown, his soft eyes deepened with guilt. The crimson pools were just screaming, "I'm sorry, okay?!" The former flower girl smiled in spite of herself. He looked so adorable like that...
Lightly, she nudged the blade away from the edge of her chin, her finger lingering on the swift, light blade, somehow knowing it was no longer a threat. Her kind features were painted with sympathy and filled with understanding. "Apology accepted," she said simply, her voice soft, and to the Prince, musical.
She managed not to laugh as surprise passed across his face, eyebrow rising in bewilderment. She silently giggled, and made a vow to make him surprised again - if just to see that expression. He was handsome if he wasn't scowling at the world, in fact....he was dead sexy.
Hiei didn't, couldn't, say anything - he barely managed the small nod he managed to give. She had read him like a book! Nobody could do that, nobody - not even Kurama. He didn't know if he should be angry or relieved...or surprised. How had he only met her today when she seemed to know him so well? She was definitely....different.
-----------------------------
Sherkoni - (passes out from typing so much)
Perrararii - Such a baby. JK! Hehe...
1 - Hiei fangirls, don't we all wish we were her? (Anime tears)
2 - We REALLY wish we were her. X.X;;
Perrararii - Oh and if you don't know what picadillies are, don't sweat it.
Sherkoni - It's a hic thing. Yay for hicness! (Grabs a cowboy hat)
Perrararii - It's the country term for english chips. (Eats a handful)