Saeka: Well, I am the back with another chapter! You guys sure make your point known So reader-chans, I'm gonna go ahead and do away with the freakishly long author's notes and just cut to the chase. (--grins broadly-- ) I dunno how long this chapter'll be...hmm... We'll just see, I guess!!

Let's get a few things out of the way first:

Reviewers: YOU GUYS ROCK! (--hands out e-cookies--) I'm glad you guys like this piece of crap so much... (--sniffs--) if gives me courage to go on... dude, that sounded gay.

Disclaimer crap: (I actually remembered this time) You know what? Why should I even bother? It's not like lawyers are gonna say randomly, "Hmm... I think I'll look at a fanfiction site and see if I can bust teenagers because I have nothing better to do." I mean, granted, there are some people who probably do that, but the chances of one of them finding this story are pretty minimal. Besides, isn't it kinda obvious I don't own YYH? Lawyers, I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say you guys are vicous blood-sucking losers.

I couldn't think of a good title for this chapter... so, Don't be surprised if you can't link it to what's in the chapter. Okay, so, without much more adieu about nothing, I'll shut up and let you read the story.

Psssh!!!! (--begins cracking up hysterically--) I just THE gayest internet pop-up add EVER!! Some doofus crack addic said I could get 50 dollars if I said I wanted to legalize the use of Marijuana! (--begins laughing again--) Just thought I'd share... (--wipes tears--) fifty bucks to legalize Marijuana.... That's great....

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Chapter Five: That Old Black Magic

Dearest and Darling Mamoru,

I miss you ever so much in this ghastly palace. Your brilliant plan has paid out in full; the poor fool falling for your trick in every way. I did manage to get his first name: Hiei. Don't worry— he is completely taken with me, and it is only a matter of time before he starts telling me the right kind of information.

That frigid bitch Botan hasn't made any headway at all, spending all her time with Hiei's ugly assistant and pitiful soldiers. See where your precious Botan is getting? I could do better than that with both arms tied behind my back.

I pine for you every day, and long for the time when I can see your face again. I miss you with every fiber of my being, and wish more than anything to see you again.

With unending love,

Miki

Mamoru set down Miki's letter on the table with a frown. He steeped his fingers under his chin, and contemplated it. She's obviously lying through those pretty teeth of hers, he thought as he pushed himself up from the chair. He walked over to the side table and poured himself a brandy. The fool doesn't even realize I sent her there to get her out of my hair. No doubt Botan will outdo her in ways she can't even imagine. He took a sip slowly, before moving across the room and flinging open a door and walking into a dimly lit room.

Inside the room was an odd collection of materials: An ancient tablet behind a glass case, Koenma's hat, a plank of wood handing from the ceiling, etc. If one were to walk in there, they would notice that most of these items had some sentimental value to Mamoru. Mamoru wandered around the room to a slender wooden paddle that was inside a glass case. Flipping it open, he stared at the broom for a minute before trailing his long and bony fingers across the grain. Botan, he thought as he took another sip of his drink. Such beauty and fire all in a single package. Thinking back to the night when he first touched her, a grim smile came to his lips. No one has ever before refused me as she did with such fervor. After this whole ordeal is over, I plan to make her mine. Such passion and comeliness should never be denied from me.

"Mr. Mamoru?"

Mamoru snatched back his hand as though the wooden paddle had burned him. Whipping around, he saw Winters, standing hesitantly in the doorway, his sharp blue eyes glinting with something Mamoru could not name.

"Yes, Winters, what is it?"

Winters took a nervous gulp, and shifted around nervously. "I'm beginning to wonder if I did the right thing in killing our Koenma-sir. I mean... he was our prince. What if I get found out? I have a child and a wife to care for, Mr. Mamoru, don't you forget, and if I get taken away or killed, I don't know what's going to happen..."

Mamoru rolled his eyes. "Honestly, Winters, you're more of a man than that. I had kill Koenma because I knew you were one of the few men who had the spine to do it. And you wanted to kill him, remember? Didn't he saw something about how pretty your wife was?"

Winter's eyes glinted dangerously. "Yes. That's right. But, I'm starting to think that that too, just like everything that has happened ever since I met you, has been a carefully concocted deceit."

"What are you talking about?" Mamoru said in a tired tone.

"I saw how you were looking at her at the ball," Winters growled lowly. "Don't deny it! You want her, you bastard!" With that, Winters pulled out a small pistol. "She's mine, dammit! No one is allowed to touch her!"

"Now, Jeremy," Mamoru began, beginning to feel slightly nervous. "Why don't you just put that away. I didn't do anything."

A tear trickled down Jeremy Winters' cheek. "I know you had her, all men have. She's had more men than a public toilet seat. And I've killed every last one of them, just like I'll kill you now, you bastard son of swineherd!"

What the hell...? Mamoru thought. The man is clearly insane! He backed up, causing Winters to follow him. "Surely, you don't want to kill me, Jeremy. I'm the one that gave you this job."

The hand that held the pistol began to shake as a sob escaped from Winters. "I don't care. No one touches my wife and gets away with it. No one!"

Soon Mamoru hit a glass case, looking down at it, he noticed it held a slender jeweled dagger. "You're making a big mistake, Jeremy," he said as he fingered for the opening. Quietly, he flipped up the case and moved his hand around until it wrapped around the hilt of the dagger. He calmly drew it out of the case, and hid it behind his back.

"Me?" Winters laughed. "A mistake? Do you know that this is the same pistol that killed Koenma?" He said, his thumb drawing back the safety as he cocked the gun. "You should be honored to be killed with the same device that killed out prince. And now, dear Mr. Mamoru, after you're dead, I'll have control of Spirit World. So, I bid adieu to you, and hope you burn in hell," He pulled the trigger.

A loud boomed sounded out, and Mamoru quickly dogged the bullet. He threw the dagger out of his hands, and it sailed through the air to Winters, burying itself to the hilt in his chest. The gun clattered to the floor, and Winters' hands grabbed the hilt of the dagger, trying to pull it out of his chest. "Sadly, I think you're mistaken," Mamoru said in a silky voice as he wandered over to Winters. He brushed aside Winters' hands, and grabbed the hilt, causing Winters to choke on a curse word. "You'll be the one burning in hell." He twisted the haft sharply, and Jeremy Winters was dead before he hit the floor.

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Botan's Chambers

The bright morning sunlight streaked through a large bay window, settling itself on a slumbering Botan. The sun showed the shadows Botan's thick black lashes across her cheeks, and her lips were parted slightly as she drew in a breath. Next to the lavish four-poster bed, Kurama sighed. He had been watching her ever since late night, where she had fainted in shock of seeing Hiei. Oh Botan, he thought, brushing aside a stray lock of hair. I should have told you earlier. I didn't know it would be that much a shock to you. It's my entire fault.

"Must you fawn all over her like that?" Hiei scoffed from the doorway.

Kurama smiled slightly, gently touching Botan's cheek with his index finger. "She looks so peaceful asleep. I wonder what she's thinking about?"

Hiei rolled his eyes and casually leaned across the doorframe. "Does it matter?" He asked, crossing his arms. "She's a woman."

"Really Hiei, you're not fooling anyone. Even you must be attracted to her in some way. She faced a lot of danger in the Makai for you."

"I'm no fool to let a pitiful emotion such as love get in the way," Hiei scowled, saying the word "love" like it was slimy rodent.

"She's an amazing woman," Kurama persisted, turning his head around to look at Hiei with sharp and piercing green eyes.

"She's also an air-headed bimbo," Hiei flatly. "She fainted, Kurama. Doesn't that say something to you? I like my women to be women," Hiei said distastefully, looking darkly at Botan.

Kurama chuckled. "So, if you really don't care about her, why are you here?"

Hot color flooded Hiei's cheeks. "To get your ass away from her. Isn't it time you had ate something instead of staring at that pathetic twit?"

Kurama rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say. Though, that offer of food does sound appealing."

"Well, do you think I'm going to serve it to you myself? The food's in my room, remember?"

Kurama glanced hesitantly over towards the slumbering Botan. "But... what about—"

"She'll be alive in fifteen minuets, I promise," Hiei taunted. "Honestly, I think it's disgusting the way you grovel all over like that."

Kurama chuckled as he eased himself up from the chair he had been sitting on and towards the door. "Just wait, Hiei. Just wait." And so, both kitsune and koorime headed out the door.

With a gasp, Botan jolted upright in bed. She put a hand to her forehead, which felt as if it had been run over by a truck. Though both the men didn't know it, Botan had been awake the whole time. She had been ever since Kurama's hand had touched her cheek. As much as it hurt to think it, it wasn't a pleasant way to wake up. She feigned sleep when she heard Hiei's voice, lying still. So it really did happen. It wasn't a dream. Botan thought that when she saw Hiei again after all these years, she would be cool, aloof, and beautiful enough to break his heart. And what did she do ten seconds into seeing him? She fainted. Out cold on the floor.

So much for cool and aloof.

At the sudden unpleasant memory, Botan groaned and threw her legs over the side of the bed. As she moved around looking for some clothes, it slowly dawned on Botan how much she had missed Hiei. I can't get him out of my mind, she thought angrily. Sure, he is good-looking, but so's Kurama. So why don't I get weak-kneed when I hear his voice? Why does it have to be Hiei? He's never shown any feelings towards me at all. It's just a crush. That's what it is. Just a harmless crush.

Assuring herself with that thought, Botan slipped on some shoes. Tying her hair back in a ribbon, she grabbed a sun hat and headed outside. Some fresh air's what I need. I feel much better after that.

The warm sunlight seeped into Botan as she walked out the large front hall in the morning air. Taking a deep gulp of the crisp and clean mountain air, Botan set off happily down into the rolling green hills that surrounded the palace. When she came to a crest in a hill, she cheerfully plopped down into the glowing green grass, flinging out her arms as she lay down. Feeling content and lazy as she basked in the cozy sunlight, Botan felt her thoughts wander. Idly, she picked out shapes in the clouds that sparkled white in the clear cerulean sky. Botan closed her eyes languorously, soaking up the happy feeling of the moment.

"What are you doing."

Botan bolted upright and her eyes flew open to see Hiei. He was silhouetted in darkness, and his arms were folded grumpily across his chest. "Oh, hi Hiei," she said nervously.

He rolled his eyes and squatted down next to her. "Do you honestly have no sense, onna?" He asked in a scolding tone.

"Uhh...what do you mean?"

"Please. Are you really that dumb and homely? Don't you realize that these woods are covered in assassins trying to out fancy new ways to kill me? And that one of those inventive ways is through you?"

"So why are you here?" Botan asked, feeling her temper rise at being called ugly and stupid.

"You're kidding," Hiei said flatly. "I'm making sure you don't die, fool. You should go inside right now before anything happens. You should have asked before you came outside anyway."

"Well, excuse me, Mr. High-and-Mighty! I didn't know I had to have a keeper just to go outside!"

"Well, you shouldn't have been stupid enough to think that nothing would happen if you came outside! Do you have any idea what kind of price there is on your head?" Hiei asked, his cheeks beginning to flush with anger.

"Well, you should've told me! And don't use that, I'm-a-good-Samaritan- trying-to-help-Botan act because I can see right through that!"

"At least you can see something!"

"All you do is whine, whine, whine! I don't think I've hear one positive word from you ever since the day I met you!"

"That's good enough for me, because at least I have a brain! And stop yelling so loud! People clear across the island can hear you!"

"I yell?! You yelled first! Don't yell at me for yelling at you, you—"

"I'll yell whenever I damned well please." He was shouting, his fist balled and clenched, his whole body quivering with anger all blown out of proportion to the subject of the argument. Those crimson eyes shot fire at her.

Botan, too, was suddenly furious. She was sick and tired of being put up by the male species. And one of those males was about to know it. "Well, then, I'll yell right back!" she said, yelling herself, glaring up at him with an expression that matched his. "Who do you think you are, anyway? I haven't even seen you since god-knows when, and the first thing you do to me is yell because I'm outside?! If I'd know that was going to make you mad, I should've just let you whine all over yourself—baby!"

There was a moment's charged silence.

"Why you little—" He bit off a word, but his eyes said it for him. They spat anger at her like a wildfire. His hands were no longer balled, but hung at his sides where the fingers flexed and unflexed as if they itched to close around her throat. Beneath his clothes, the muscles of his arms tightened until they resembled rolling hills. He looked as if he was about to explode. Botan knew she had hit below the belt by calling him a whiner and a baby, but she didn't care. It was time Mr. "I'm-better-than-you- because-you're-a-girl" was brought down a peg or two.

"Crybaby!" She said, taunting. The absurdity of the nursery rhyme didn't even occur to her. She wanted to make him mad and she with unerring accuracy that that was the way to do it.

She was right. She could practically see the steam come out of his ears. His fists clenched at his sides, and she could see his whole body tense with furry.

"Shut up, Botan." The command was a grim warning, uttered through clenched teeth.

Botan lifted her head and looked him squarely in the eyes. "Crybaby, cry, stick your finger in your eye," she sang softly. With a furious bellow, he pounced on her, causing her to shout as his hands grabbed her shoulders. His momentum made them topple down the steep slope of the hill, rolling down it like a log. They landed at the bottom in a heap, and Hiei wasted no time in pinning her to the ground. He exuded anger, and his breathing was hard and labored as he stared at her, mad with anger.

"Say it again. I dare you." His lips barely parted to reveal the glinting white teeth through which he spoke. Botan felt his hands on her upper arms, saw the murder that glittered in his scarlet eyes, and for an instant was transported back to when they first met and she had thought he was going to kill her every other minute. He looked as frightening now as he had then... only now, she remembered, she wasn't afraid of him.

"Not so brave at such close quarters, are you?" He sneered.

The sneer was a mistake. It reminded her of her grievances with him. She straightened her spine and glared at him through the mess of her hair. "Crybaby!" She said again in a soft, goading tone.

He stared down her as if he couldn't believe his ears. His hands tightened on her arms so that his fingers dug into her soft skin, and gave her a warning shake.

"Shut up."

"Crybaby!"

"Shut up!"

"Crybaby!"

"Argghh!" It was a growl much like a tiger's, and like a tiger, he looked ready to spring. One hand tightened ferociously on her arm while the other lifted, hovering open-palmed in the air. Looking up into his rage-infused face, Botan was certain that he meant to strike her. Ever instinct for self- preservation that she possessed urged her to keep quiet but something, some unnamed thing like a thorn in her flesh, was driving her on...

"Crybaby!" she cried, glaring up at him defiantly, her eyes daring him to do his worst.

He growled again, deep in his throat, and he could see the hot blood throb in the artery in his neck. His crimson eyes glittered with it. But he did not slap her. Instead, the hand that hand been poised above her face shot to the back of her head and grabbed a handful of shimmering blue hair. He jerked her toward him, his eyes still glittering with murder as his face came down to hers. His mouth descended on hers like an avenging fury, assaulting and punishing as it forced her lips apart. Botan felt her lower lips spilt as he drove it back against her teeth, and tasted her own blood in her mouth, felt the harsh rape of his invading tongue. Stunned, she hung in his arms like a sack of flour, too shocked to fight. His fist gripping her hair hurt. His arms that had slid around her shoulders to crush her to hum hurt. And yet... she didn't want him to stop. At the first touch of his lips to hers, Botan felt as if she would explode from the sheer fire she felt ignite in her body. It was the most wonderful feeling being kissed by this man, death and rebirth in the same instant. She wanted the feeling to go on for forever.

Suddenly, he broke away from the kiss. "What is it?" Botan breathed as she felt Hiei come to full alert.

"There's someone in the woods. Can't you hear it?" Unexpectedly, he jumped up lightly, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword as his sharp eyes scanned the woods.

Botan made a noise of protest, and wearily got up to her feet. "Are you sure—"

"Watch out!" He called, jumping at her and pulling her to the ground as a bullet sailed above their heads. Just then, there was a loud boom, and the sound of hooves pounding across the ground. Botan looked over her shoulder just in time to see three men come crashing out of the brush on large war- horses. Hiei pulled out a bow and stretched an arrow across it, shooting it at one of the horses. Another shot fired, this time hitting a tree trunk next to Botan. "What are you doing, baka?!" Hiei cried. "Run, you idiot!"

"But what about you?"

"Let me just have some fun with them. I can handle myself!"

Struck dumb by all the action going on around her, Botan stood firmly planted to the ground. She woke up enough the notice Hiei jumping up and reappearing to slice off the head of one of assassins. What is he doing? He could have killed them in an instant. Why is he just playing with them like this? Is it another one of those "male-ego" things? Then she saw another one, sneaking up behind Hiei as he clashed swords with one of the assassins. He drew out a pistol, and cocked it at the unsuspecting Hiei who was laughing and taunting the group of men.

Botan saw a vision of seeing Hiei in a pool of blood on the ground. Suddenly frightened, Botan ran towards the man with the gun, throwing herself at him with a scream. The gun went off, point-blanc into her stomach. She grunted, her eyes widening at the sheer white-hot pain. Blood rose to her mouth, and she reached down to touch the rapidly bleeding wound in her side.

"Botan!" Hiei called, and, if she hadn't been delirious, Botan would have thought that was panic in his voice. He quickly finished off the rest of the assassins in an instant, throwing his sword down on the ground and running over towards Botan, just as she slumped to the floor. "Botan," he said again, his voice breaking.

"I was wrong," Botan said in a whisper, it hurting to talk. She groaned suddenly at the feel of the bullet against her insides. "You're not a crybaby." With that, she slid down into the darkness that called her.

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Hiei's POV, back at the Palace

As I sat next to her bed, one question kept running through my mind. Why. She looked horrible, groaning in her state of unconsciousness as she tossed and turned in the bed. I touched her brow, wiping off the sweat that dampened it. Never before has anyone showed me such kindness. What would compel someone such as her to that? If it weren't for her, I would be in her place. She should have let me take the bullet, dammit. I'm stronger than her.

She hates me. She made that clear the moment she started calling me names. Then why would she risk her life to save me, of all people? She groaned again, and I felt a horrible twisting sensation in my belly. Why does she make me feel this way? I thought, clenching my hand to my stomach, from where the feeling came. Me, who has felt almost no emotion in my life, is suddenly getting all worked up over a pathetic twit like her? Why would she save me if she so clearly hated me? She almost died. If it weren't for Kurama, who came so quickly at her scream, she would be dead. At the thought of her dead, another sharp feeling pierced itself through my chest. I choked, my hand flying up to my throat. Why do I suddenly feel this way? Feelings were flooding through me, feelings I thought I would never have the trouble of feeling again. Emotions are useless. Isn't that what I taught myself so long ago? They just get in the way of better things.

Suddenly furious with myself, I swiped my arm across the side table, causing a pitcher of water to crash to the floor. The outburst didn't help. To make it worse, no doubt that noise would bring a worrying Kurama, who was never far from her door. Undoubtedly, he appeared within the instant. Assessing the still resting Botan and the pile of glass of the floor, he raised an eyebrow.

"Don't you look at me like that," I sneered over my shoulder at him.

"Like what, Hiei?"

"Like I suddenly have feelings for her. Because I don't!"

He shrugged, and moved over to pick up the shattered glass. "You know, she nearly died to save your life. Admit it Hiei, if it weren't for her, you would be in her place, more than likely dead."

"I know exactly where'd I'd be," I snarled, suddenly furious at Kurama. "And I certainly don't need a fool like you telling me that every five minutes."

Kurama held up his hands in mock surrender. "Hiei, I don't know what's gotten into you, but I suggest you clear your system of it. It's never good to be angry going into a war." With that, he got up and left.

"Oh, I know exactly what's gotten into me," I said in a low growl. Ever since I had that taste of her. I should've never done that, let my emotions get the better of me. "It's the blue-haired fairy girl who doesn't seem to get out of my mind. When you awake, Botan," he said, getting up, "You'll have some questions to answer."

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Saeka: Sorry I couldn't come up with a better and longer chapter in the two weeks it took me to write this thing. (--hangs head in shame--) At least I managed to fill in some of the gapping plot holes!! Well... one... but, still, It's a start!

Ja everybody! And don't forget to review!