Last Chapter...

Shizuru led Touya and Kurama far away from the battle that raged in the food court and out of the mall, on their way to her old school.

Love Me, Hate Me, Just Don't Let Me Fall

Chapter 12: Joyful Pills

"You don't really believe I was on a date with Touya, do you?" Botan couldn't bear to think that Hiei believed that! Wasn't her word good enough for him?

"Of course not, you baka!" Hiei told her as they continued walking. They had just left the mall, and Botan had no clue where they were going.

"Then why did you say all of those things?" she asked, confused. She had thought he hated her, but after what he just said...

"I had to lie, baka onna! I've already told you, I don't love you - I don't now, never have, and I never will. I could care less if you dated him," Hiei snapped. He knew he was being a bit harsh on her, but he didn't want her to guess his true feelings...

When he first had heard Yusuke's theory about Botan cheating on him with Touya, he had felt a small pang of jealousy. He had ignored it, thinking that he was just used to having Botan's full devotion. Despite however Hiei might act, he didn't hate or even dislike Botan now that he had actually gotten to know her - how could he hate the only girl who dared to love him?

And yet, at the same time, he knew that he didn't love her either. The fire demon was a stranger to such emotion, and at the moment, he was very confused. Should he risk it and open his heart to her, or should he push her away before she could hurt him?

As expected, Botan was slightly hurt at his heartless statement. She tried to forget it and said, "Then what was all of that about?"

He told her what had happened while she was away. In return, Botan told him what happened to her with Touya and the others; of course, she left out everything involving Yukina and Touya. She would save that story for later.

"That certainly clears a few things up. So, where are we going now?"

"Reikai," was his short reply as he continued walking. Taking the hint, Botan quieted, and their journey plowed on in silence.

Within a few minutes, they arrived at the site of a portal to Reikai. Botan activated it, and they both stepped through.

As soon as they arrived, they headed to Koenma's office. When they walked through the doors, they found Koenma staring at the alarm on his desk that was linked to Hiei's Jagan. He had been hoping for it to go off so he could fail them, but upon seeing Hiei and Botan, he was extremely disappointed.

"Hiei, Botan, you made it!" he said, feigning a cheerful tone.

Hiei glared at him and muttered, "No thanks to you, godling. How many more of these ridiculous tests are you going to force us into?"

"Keep your belts on, fire boy, you only have one more test," Koenma retorted, much to Botan's relief. She was ready for this business with Koenma to be over already.

"So, then, what's the test?" she asked eagerly.

"This." Koenma handed Hiei a folder, containing a short stack of papers. "Finish this mission, and you will have completed this half of our deal. Fail it, and you fail everything. Is that understood?"

"Hai, Koenma," Botan answered. Then Hiei and Botan began poring over the papers.

Their mission was to go to King Yama's private island in Makai, nicknamed 'Happy Island'. Millenniums ago, it had been a favorite vacationing spot for the gods, but after the war with the Netherworld, it had been abandoned. Eventually, it was filled with lower class demon criminals who were trying to escape from the law. Gambling, drinking, stealing, and other sorts of illegal activities went on unchecked by anyone since no one else dared to enter the gods' island. Hiei and Botan were to get rid of all of the demons and make it presentable for to Koenma use as part of his wedding plans.

After they finished reading, Koenma held out two blue pills in the palms of his hands and said, "Before you leave, you have to eat one of these."

Hiei narrowed his eyes suspiciously at the pills. "What the heck are those!"

"They're called... uh, Joyful Pills. Just take them, or else you won't pass the test!" the god finished hastily.

The fire demon thought over his options. He could always refuse to take them and fail the tests, but it would just be a waste to quite now.

If he were to take them, his only hope would be that Koenma was giving them the same pill. The godling wouldn't dare give his beloved Botan something fatal, so the effects couldn't be too horrible.

Hiei would just have to take a chance. Whatever happens next would happen, and he would simply have to deal with it then.

Cautiously, the fire demon grabbed a pill and swallowed it. Botan followed his lead and did the same. After making sure that they had swallowed them, Koenma said, "Good. Now you should begin your mission. You have exactly one week."

"No," Hiei stated. "We have to go to Ningenkai first."

Koenma glared at him and answered, "Fine. Go to Ningenkai. The timer will automatically begin once you reach Happy Island."

Hiei nodded, and then walked out of Koenma's office, followed closely by Botan. "Hiei?" she asked as soon as they were far enough away from Koenma. "Where are we going?"

"Ningenkai."

"I know that! I mean, where in Ningenkai?"

"To find the fox."

"What! Why?" she asked, surprised. They were so close to finishing the tests, and he wanted to visit Kurama?

"To learn more about the effects of those 'Joyful Pills'. Koenma has something planned..."

"Oh. Well, it can't be too bad, can it?" Botan replied optimistically. "I mean, he DOES love me, so..."

"Yes, but you left him for me. What are the chances of something GOOD coming from it?" Hiei answered as he shot her a dark look.

"Oh..." Botan frowned. His realistic logic sure dampened the mood...