Saeka: (--immediately falls to her knees--) I am so, so, SO sorry, reader chans!! Trust me, normally I update a lot faster than this but, hell, I just completely forgot about the damn story. Please forgive me!! (--starts bowing fervently--) Seriously, I was cleaning out my hard drive to make room for some game I was loading, and then I saw the document for this and was like OH SH#T!! I've just been wrapped up in swimming (the national meet is soon) and then I got this really nifty idea for a story and had to put that down and then post it on fanfiction, and then my freakin dumbass Pre-Cal teacher gives us like twenty-billion trig problems for homework each night and (--takes deep breath--) I STILL HAVE TO PRACTICE VIOLIN FOR MY ORCHESTRA EXAM!

(--faints--)

What happened to summer? I remember I did like, nothing. (--sighs--)Yeah, I should be doing a billion other things right now, but, feh, I figure it shouldn't take me THAT long to write a chapter. (--glances at the last time she updated--) Hm. August Sixth. Damn†Man guys, I'm sorry†I just forgot about this story

Ha, my school's closed today because of (--newscaster voice--) "Hurricane Frances" which is really now "Tropical Storm Frances" and crap. All it's done so far is blown a tree onto our swing set. Plbbbbt.

Anyway, here's all the usual crap and junk:

Disclaimer: It definitely doesn't snow in July. And I definitely don't own Yu Yu Hakusho.

Reviewers: (--faints again--) Everyone who reviews totally rocks my world! If you didn't review, yet you read my story, well, we'll just invite you to the party late and give you all the stale chips and rancid salsa. Those of you who DID review and DID give me an opinion, um, no, I hadn't quite planned on Mamoru to wallow in his own pool of blood just yet. Though I'm still considering it, and everyone one of your ideas did pass into my consideration. As for what I've decided, you'll just have to read to find out. (--grins at the power of being the author--) Anyway, here's a list of all the people who aren't in love with Botan: myself, my dog, my boyfriend, Hitori, Miki, Yusuke, Kazuma, Joey, Seto, Miroku, Jim Hawkins, and the list goes on. Thanks everyone, who told that (--bites tongue against onslaught of adjectives--) Ashlee Simpson where she should go. (--wipes tears--) YOU GUYS FOREVER ROCK!!! (--passes out wads of cookie-dough and boxes of pocky to the most wonderfullest reviewers ever--)

By the way, I'm writing this all in one sitting, and must I warn you, I have the attention span of a rodent and get pretty random ideas for things to happen in the story sometimes. Hm†Yeah, I if I mess up (like I know I will because I never go back and check my grammar and crap like that) Uh, please don't tell me. I get really embarrassed when someone points something out like that†It makes me realize that I can really suck at writing sometimes

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Chapter 8: The Tangled Games People Play

The Baths

The steam curled up sinisterly from the surface of the water, filling the vaulted tiled ceilings of the room with an eerie fog. Sweat dropped visibly from the bath servants as they wandered around, adding various salts and other amenities to the water. Miki stood off to the side, a cruel smile on her lips. She was wrapped in a thick terrycloth robe, leaning against one of the smoothly tiled walls. Her eyes had narrowed into thin golden slits, and she looked very smug with herself.

Oh yes, she thought nastily. He'll be mine.

"Is there anything else, Miki?"

Miki snapped back to attention, her head whipping around to see one of the servants before her, his head bowed. Just because she was in a particularly spiteful mood, she grabbed his shirt and drew him up to her face. "I told you before, bastard," she said in a low voice. "It's mistress." With a look of disgust, she threw him back on the ground.

He twisted up into a ball, shrinking into himself as he spluttered, "I—I, I'm sorry, mistress, I had just—" He groaned when Miki drew back her foot and kicked him in the stomach.

"Idiot bastard! How many times do I have to tell you?!" she screeched, accenting her words with sharp kicks into his stomach. "You—will—address—me—as—mistress!!"

The man didn't answer, simply curling up into himself, trying his best to pretend he wasn't there.

"When Hiei finds out about this, you—"

"That is enough, Miki!"

Miki looked up sharply, her blonde hair flying over her face. A tall and willowy woman stood before her, her hands clasped elegantly in front of her. Her sharp blue eyes were spitting cerulean fire at her, her hair coiled tightly enough to draw the skin on her cheeks back sharply. Though she only wore simple homespun, she looked regal and elegant, like a queen. "What do you want, Kadae?" Miki snarled meanly.

The housekeeper Kadae narrowed her eyes at the girl, before kneeling down to the man huddled on the floor, his hands held over his head to stop the blows from coming. "There now," she said softly, trying to calm him down. She gathered him up in her arms, her mouth turning down into a compassionate frown when he buried his face in her shirt and began sobbing uncontrollably. "Hush. You're safe now†I won't let her touch you again" Her cold blue eyes flashed upward suddenly, giving Miki a look that could have sent a mass rapist home with his tail between his legs. "It's all right, Mitsuki. She won't give you any problems, I promise"

His fist clutched at her shirt, sobbing harder, "Oh, Mistress Kadae, it was so awful†so awful"

"Ssh†It's all right†she's not hurting you right now, is she?"

As Miki watched Kadae calm down one of her beloved servants, she felt bile rise up in her throat. That's disgusting. The bastard deserved every word of what I gave him. Pah, once I get a hold of Hiei he'll understand, and he'll be right beside me. After today, that is. With that last thought causing another mean-spirited smile, Miki leaned back against the wall and waited for Kadae to send away the sniveling pathetic twit of a man. When she finally did, she stood up to address Miki with stormy blue eyes.

"I will not ask where that sudden onslaught of—"

"Oh, shut up, bitch," Miki said, a touch of annoyance coating her voice. "That dumbass Mitsuki who calls himself a man deserves everything I gave him and more. I've told him more than once to address me as mistress."

A muscle in Kadae's cheek twitched. "Were that ever grounds for a beating, Miki, you might have gotten away with it. Sadly, you seemed to have forgotten that you owe no more weight in the way this palace is run than he does."

Miki flushed "Listen, whore," she gritted, her teeth snapping on every word. "That doesn't matter to me. You'll see, I'll be the one giving you orders, bitch."

"Oh?" Kadae asked, her own voice rising as she quirked a brow. "And how is this supposed to happen?"

"Hiei, you two-timing slut! That's how it's going to happen! In case you haven't noticed, you conniving little whore, he's crazy about me! And don't think that I won't be the new master of the servants!" Miki screeched angrily, her complexion turning a most unbecoming shade of plum. Not to mention the crowd of servants that had stopped what they were doing to witness the fight between their mistress and the unpopular Miki.

Despite the assault of insults, Kadae stood as regal as possible, her ingrained manners keeping her head held high and her voice as becoming as possible. "Miki, I'm positive that I speak for everyone when I say that we are all tired of your haughty airs. Truly, you are no better than the rest, your tongue sharp and unfriendly. And you wonder why no one seems to like you," she scoffed softly, clicking her tongue. "The way you act, you're lucky that the servants even tolerate you. If I were Hiei, I would have thrown you out into the streets long ago. I bought you on a whim, young lady, seeing that maybe you had area to improve yourself. But after that despicable behavior I witnessed today, I see that I was wrong in my judgment."

Miki, whose mouth had been hanging open at the offensive words that had came out of the mild-tempered Kadae. "Why you loathsome little—"

Kadae cut off Miki with a quick motion of her hand. "No. I won't take anymore of it."

"Listen—"

"Go pack your bags, Miki. I'm asking you to leave."

A collective cheer went up from the servants who were close enough to hear. Miki herself stood dumbfounded, her eyes wide and in shock. "B-but, you can't do that, Mistress—"

"Do not try and make amends for it," she snapped out before her voice softened as she spoke again. "I'm sorry, Miki. I wish I could say that it wounds me to let you go, but sadly I offer no ill feelings towards your release. I will have Hitori or Master Kurama drive you off to the slave market tomorrow." With that, Kadae turned to leave, only to experience that something was holding her back. With a sound of disgust, she glanced down and saw Miki hanging on to the edges of her dress.

"Mistress, you can't, I promise it won't happen ever again—"

Kadae's blue eyes were cold and merciless as she addressed Miki for the final time. "Miki, I'm very sorry, but after the way you treated one of your fellow servants, I cannot afford to have you hanging around anymore. I'm asking you to leave."

She shook out her skirts, leaving behind a stunned Miki. She offered one last sympathetic look at her before turning around, rapping out sharp orders to the servants who were hanging around to get back to work before she left.

Inconceivable.

It isn't possible.

What will I tell Mamoru?

Miki fought back tears as the servants slanted sly looks at her. She had been making so much ground... it was ridiculous that that idiot bitch Kadae wanted to get rid of her. She didn't have control of her—only Hiei did. Only Hiei did.

She can't get rid of me. It isn't her place!!

On the heels of that thought came another, Oh, God, Mamoru's likely to do something drastic when he finds out Wait. No he won't. He loves me. He said so himself. He said that he'd prefer me any day over that idiot Botan. Isn't that what he said?

Miki collapsed to her knees, the world around her becoming and incandescent blur.

Isn't it?

He told me that he'd love me no matter what happened. So why do I feel like this? Like when he finds out he'll likely throttle me? Or worse—kill me?

No.

He wouldn't do that.

He couldn't.

Sadly, the comfort offered from that thought was severely minimal. Miki highly doubted that he would be pleased with her when he found out that his spy had been released. At least they haven't found out that I was a spy yet. Of course, that was one of the few comforting thoughts she had.

At least I still have Hiei.

At that thought, some of the dizziness that had come with the act of Mistress Kadae releasing her melted away. That's right. He has the power to overthrow her. And after I get done with him today, that is, if my plan is to work, he'll be completely putty in my hands.

Reaching down to finger the small vile of dried plants and herbs that hung from her neck, a treacherous grin began to curve up her lips. If her plan worked, and as it had worked in the past, she would be irresistible to her dear Hiei. He'll be mine.

With that comforting thought, Miki pushed herself up to saunter over to the door, where she had every intention of finding Hiei and bringing him to her. It was time that he began to understand her efforts.

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The Palace Corridors

Remotely Close to Hiei's P.O.V., but not really, which really doesn't make and sense at all, does it?

There were loud crashes and bangs as Hiei stalked down the hallway, causing most of his servants to press themselves against the hallways once they saw the way he glowered at everyone. It had been well known the way he acted in the past month—whisperings throughout the palace had marked his loathsome mood towards the war he was losing, his troops dropping down in numbers. Other's blamed it on the blue-haired girl that wandered the palace gardens, cheery to all she spoke to, reserving her anger for no one. What his anger amounted to was anyone's guess, for no one was dumb enough to hang around him long enough to witness his wrath.

She's going to answer my questions. All of them.

Scowling fiercely at a servant who dropped whatever they were holding, he turned a corner, flung he over the stair railing and landed gracefully on the floor. Picking himself up, he started off for outside.

No more evading me.

What he failed to realize as he crossed the great hall was that it was more like he was evading her—but, then again, it was her who hadn't made any move to talk to her. But why would she? The last time he tried to talk to her left him confused and hot to the touch.

So passionate and beautiful. I don't know what I did wrong. I told her more than I've ever told anyone.

And yet she left me.

Feeling slightly distraught, he pushed open the heavy mahogany doors and crossed the lawns to the forest. How had she worded it? She didn't want him because of that damned wretch Miki?

That's complete bullshit. She knows I didn't invite her in my room. She came on her own behalf. I didn't mean for her to see me.

She wants me.

I know it. Yet she continues to profess that she hates me.

Still that damned bullet.

There were many things that a man wasn't meant to understand. Like why yes sometimes means no, why women get moody sometimes, why you should never ask for your girlfriend's weight, etcetera etcetera. Which was exactly why Hiei couldn't understand Botan's actions compared to her words.

She kissed me with more passion than I've ever seen from anyone.

So, as Hiei wandered across the lawn, his sharp red eyes scanning the horizon for a blue-haired girl, his thoughts continued to be a thriving mass of confusion. As he passed the out-building that was reserved for bathing, he saw a shadow step out of the doorway in front of me.

Not bothering to look up, he muttered an excuse me and tried to evade the person. When a small hand shot out and latched onto his wrist, he looked up sharply. When he saw long blonde hair and wide golden eyes, he groaned inwardly. Now really wasn't the time for him to get felt up by some annoying girl.

"We see too little of you, Lord Hiei," she said, her voice a husky timbre.

"Miki, this really isn't the time—"

She cut off his words by leaning forward, wrapping her arms around his neck, and smiling up at him from under long black lashes. "It's sad that such a generously endowed man is so stingy with his... presence."

Lips more red than a cherry pouted for an instant, only to widen into a sensual smile that was for Hiei and Hiei alone. Miki stepped even closer to him, stood on tiptoe, and kissed him on the lips.

For an instant, Hiei stiffened as though he had been slapped. Then his hands unclenched and he accepted Miki's kiss with an ease that spoke of long familiarity. "A very sad shame," Miki said when Hiei ended the kiss. Not surprisingly, the huskiness in Miki's voice had doubled. Her eyes were heavy-lidded, watching only Hiei. Her clever hands smoothed down the bodice of her dress over her full, flaring hips.

Casually, Hiei widened the space between himself and Miki, unwrapping her arms from around his neck. "Thank you, but I must be on my way." He stepped away from her and began to walk away when she grabbed his wrist again. "Miki," he sighed before she cut her off.

"I don't see why you could be in such a hurry, Lord," she persisted, "Why don't you join me inside the bath house?"

"Because," he said, beginning to get slightly annoyed. "I have somewhere else to be."

"But, it will only take a second," she said, trying to drag him inside.

"Miki!" he said, his voice rising on a note as he wrenched his arm away from her. "Get out of my way!"

But the wench just wouldn't give up. She through her arms around his waste, and hung on to him as he tried to move away. "Please, Lord!! It is of utmost importance!" Rolling his eyes in annoyance, Hiei crossed his arms over his chest.

"Fine. As long as it doesn't waste my time."

"Oh, thank you," Miki said, jumping up and grabbing his hand as she ushered him inside the bathhouse. There were gasps that rippled across the room as the servants saw their lord for the first time in nearly a month. Simultaneously, whatever they had been holding clattered to the floor as they hasted into their bows. Hiei ignored it—used to the gesture as well as his annoyance at being dragged off from what he wanted to do amounting to that factor. (holy hell that was like the most confusing sentence ever) Miki led him around and into a private bath, away from everyone else. Hiei's mouth curled into a sardonic grin as he noticed how the room had been decorated. Normally, private baths contained no more than the sunken pool in the floor. In addition to that, someone had laid out an extensive selection of bath salts, some wine and grapes, as well as padding the floors with expensive silks.

"Is this all you wanted to show me?" Hiei asked, crossing his arms over his chest irritably.

Miki linked her arms around his neck, and licked her lips suggestively. "That and so much more."

Hiei rolled his eyes, and untangled her arms again. "I'm leaving." For what seemed like the fifth time in the last five minutes, Miki latched on to him again, and pressed her lips into his shirt. Amazing. The stupid bitch doesn't know when to quit.

"Please, sir," she said, his shirt muffling her cries. Annoyingly so, he noticed she was crying. God save me from women. "It distress's me so to think that you'd rather be somewhere else than with me! And you can't leave yet, you must try the wine," she sobbed, looking up at him with tears in her eyes.

He studied her, his face expressionless. If it had been a month ago, he simply would have obliged the sniveling wretch. But surprisingly, he felt no stirrings toward the girl. As beautiful as she was, he didn't want her. Her hair wasn't a haunting sky blue, and her eyes didn't sparkle like the most beautiful of amethyst gems. Her laughter didn't strike cords of desire in him, her voice didn't remind him of his past adventures.

She wasn't the woman he wanted.

He sighed deeply, and shifted his weight impatiently. "I don't care—as long as it will get you off my back."

Miki immediately shot up like a bullet, and practically leapt over towards the tray of drinks. Hiei rubbed his jaw as his thoughts wandered back to what Botan was going to tell him. Damn it, what's wrong with me? Why does it always seem to go back to her? It didn't occur to Hiei that it took Miki a good bit longer than it should have to fetch the wine. It didn't occur to him either the sly grin Miki wore when she handed him his glass was a bit slinkier than usual. Nor did he bother to notice the strange smell that floated up from the surface of his glass.

"To your prosperity, lord," she said huskily, lifting her glass high and clinking it against hers.

"Of course," Hiei muttered as he downed his glass in one fell gulp.

"Hiei!!"

The noise that had managed to creep its way into the baths caused Hiei's heart to stop. Botan! His glass clattered to floor as he dashed for the door. She's in danger! Before he made it there, however, his vision blurred suddenly and the world seemed to tilt on its axis. He gripped the doorframe, and shook his head to try and clear the sudden buzzing in his head. What the hell?! On the heels of that thought came another: I must find Botan!

The subtle laughter akin to the tinkling of glass drifted over to him in his haze. He craned his head around as he felt his knees give way beneath him. "Bitch," he said heatedly, his words slurred by the dull roar that had enveloped his mind. "You did this!"

Miki simply giggled this time as she sauntered over to him and crouched down on her knees. "Guess you won't be seeing little Botan," she ridiculed with an enormous grin on her face. "Poor Hiei," she pouted mockingly, reaching out to stroke his dark hair. "Can't even see the trap I set for him for the stars in his eyes."

Red eyes glared menacingly at Miki, his breathing hard and coming out in short puffs. "Two-timing slut," he managed to cough out, his vision blurring and his head swimming.

"You have no idea," he heard her say just before he sunk into darkness.

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The County that Has Roads that Won't Be Taking Anyone Home Today

(coughtheedgeoftheforestcough)

Botan wrenched her mouth away from Mamoru's, shoving her hands against his chest as she tried vainly to push him away. His lips nearly trailed down her hair and to her ear. She felt like throwing up.

"Touch me again and I'll scream," she warned in a voice that dripped malice.

He chuckled at that—his annoying deep noise that sounded as he was mocking her. "You should be happy that I'm offering you a place on the winning side," he muttered, kissing her neck. "Any other women would jump at the chance."

"Not this woman," she snarled angrily, still trying to push the bastard away.

He looked up at her, laughter dancing in his eyes. "That's what makes you so delightful—every other woman crumpling at my feet, but you are truly the only one who has said no and tried to make it stick. I've never wanted anything as much as I want you, Botan."

Botan shuddered.

"Enticing thought, isn't it?" He grinned at her as he pressed his lips on her collarbone, mistaking her shudder of revulsion for something different.

She wanted to murder him. She obviously couldn't try to fight him—in some perverse way that seemed to make it worse. She had her dagger stuck in her belt of course, but he was trained, he'd see her trying to pull it out and immediately pin her to the ground of something. Silently, Botan cursed the male species for being stronger than the females. What can I do? She asked herself I can't fight him—but that seems to make it worse. Oh, why did I ever except this job?

Trembling dreadfully as delicately bit her neck, Botan tried to think of all the possible ways to evade him. Sadly, only one seemed to be the winner. I'll have to pretend that his touch means more to me than it does. Holy Hell. That's going to be hard.

Taking a deep quivering breath, Botan gathered all of the strength she could muster, and stood on her tiptoes to kiss his ear.

"What's this?" Mamoru breathed. "Are you finally succumbing to me?"

Botan made a non-descript sound as she trailed kisses down his jaw.

Slightly distraught that his prey was yielding so easily, the wild rush of Mamoru's blood seemed to slow down a tick. The fun in it was gone. Oh well. No one said he couldn't enjoy what the Gods had so graciously laid out before his feet. And it wouldn't be long before she was completely his. Mamoru's heartbeat flared up suddenly at the thought. Mine, he thought. And in every since of the word.

With a silly grin on his face, Mamoru bent down to catch her mouth under his.

-----Hitori's P.O.V.------

It was the scream that had brought me to track down whoever had belted out that sorrowful noise.

It was the scream that had wrenched me from my distressing thoughts, and had made an instinctive rush of heroism streak through my blood to save to poor damsel from which the ruckus had come from

It was the scream that brought me here.

And it was the scream that forever marred my thoughts.

I had raced down the hills to the edge of the forest to find her, to see if I could save her. My ears followed the tiny crunching of twigs beneath their feet; my eyes followed the long line of tall and mighty oaks. And my heart followed the curve of the earth.

Startlingly, it was that very underrated organ that probably caused me to get there so fast. In my mind I had run through all the possible things that could be happening. The voice—feminine, delicate, though it's scream could perhaps be heard for miles—had said a single word that had made my feet fly over the earth and my heart beat fast with worry.

Hiei.

The voice could only belong to one woman who relied so much on Hiei, though she didn't know it or quite admit it. So the voice belonged to the only woman to make Hiei think. And so the voice belonged to our beloved Botan.

I took a detour in the woods, my bare feet moving silently along the edge of the forest; careful not to snap any stray twigs, or let the leaves rustle with anything other than the wind. A million thoughts ran through my mind as I became closer and closer to the source of the noise. She could be hurt, in danger... or something much much worse. I took a deep shuddering breath as I reached the spot where they should be. I was about to burst through with guns a blazing, but certain noises made me stop. They were the noises of pleasure and kissing.

Needless to say not the noises you would expect from hearing her scream, mind you. Curiously, I held myself back, and crouched down on the forest floor. My ears picked up a moan of pleasure. My heart racing perhaps even faster than it was before, I lifted a shaky hand a parted the thick foliage; my hand trembling fitfully the whole way.

What I saw made fear pool thickly in my stomach.

She was wrapped in some man's arms, his fingers burrowed in her long hair and digging deeply into her scalp. Hair the color of the mid-morning sky flew brazenly in the wind, probably undone by the man's searching fingers. Her eyes were squeezed shut as he breathed kisses over her face. And when she moaned, I felt sick to my stomach.

This is Botan? My sweet and innocent Botan?

Obviously, she wasn't so sweet and innocent now.

But who could drive her to commit to such a thing?

Then I caught my first look at the man who was playing Botan like the way a bow played a violin.

I stumbled back, the wind knocked from my chest. Emotions exploding within me—anger, fear, disappointment, murder—far too many to name. Mamoru. I thought viciously as I thought to breathe. The bitch is kissing Mamoru. And she's enjoying it. She had fooled everyone, me, Hiei, Kurama, every damn person she'd ever said a word too. She had written that letter, she had betrayed us all, and she would be the cause of our downfall. If that bastard Mamoru was here, no doubt his whole goddamn army was here.

As I staggered back to palace, my anger grew and grew. She played all of us—every word that's ever come out of that pretty mouth of hers had been a lie.

A treacherous, lying, slut was all she was.

And she said she loved Hiei.

I now know that that was a complete and total lie.

I treated her like my own daughter, my wife and I loved her and cherished her, and she stabbed the knife in our backs.

Two-timing whore.

I burst into the palace, searching for Hiei or Kurama. I didn't care which one—just as long as they knew what a liar and a slut she was. She lied to every one of us. Everyone. I had to hand it to the bitch; she certainly was a marvelous actor. She fooled me, along with everyone else she ever talked to. I thought she had been loyal to Hiei's cause, wanting him to truly rid the world of that dumb ass Mamoru. Yet now I see, that that, just like everything else, had been a carefully concocted story.

I grabbed servants left and right, demanding to see Hiei. If anyone had a right to know, he certainly did. Depressingly, I got the same answer every time: "Don't know where he is, sorry" ; "Saw him storm out of his room a while ago... haven't heart much from his after that" ; "Nope, I thought he was in his chambers"

Somehow, in my absence, Hiei had resigned his long stay in his rooms. Damn. Where the hell is he?

I had to tell someone, and He deserved to be the first to know.

You might ask why I held back on not telling Kurama. Quite frankly, that was because it would hit him the hardest. Somehow in these past few weeks, he had developed a love for Botan and her smiling ways. I had not the heart to tell him. I couldn't let her tramp all over his heart like she mine. He deserved much better than that.

So, I continued my search for Hiei. He was the first to know. And when he did, god knows that there would be hell to pay.

It was time that disloyal, traitorous, double-crossing; contemptuous slut got her just deserts. And I would enjoy ever minute of giving them to her.

-----------------------------

Back with Botan-Chan And Mamoru

Botan broke away from the kiss, doing her best to hide her revulsion. "Oh, my pet," Mamoru murmured as he trailed kisses along her skin. "I have waited so long for this moment"

The wind blew loudly, lifting Botan's hair off her neck. Okay Botan†you need to come up with something... Truly, Botan wanted to throw up if she had to take anymore of this. I just need to distract him for a moment. She shuddered as his fingertips trailed along her wrist. Just then, an idea hit her. That's it! She thought excitedly. Botan took a deep breath before: "Umm, Mamoru, darling?"

He muttered an answer to her that was muffled by her clothes.

"Right, well, I was just wondering, that it might be easier for us to continue in one of your tents."

"Why would you ever want to think that, my love?" He asked as he breathed kisses down her arm.

"Um, well, I would exactly want to get your nice clothes all dirty."

That seemed to subdue him for a moment. He pulled back, looking slightly thoughtful. "Yes, well, I suppose—"

Of course, that second was more than enough for Botan. She quickly pushed back from him, reached down into her belt, and drew out the dagger that was concealed there. Mamoru stumbled back, but saw her dagger and froze.

"No so brave now, are you Mr. Mamoru?" Botan sneered.

Surprisingly, he threw back his head and laughed. Fear pooled thickly in her stomach. The brief feeling on control she had when she finally got her weapon melted away. Why is he laughing? She wondered worriedly. I don't understand!

"Truly, my dear, you never cease to amuse me," he said, wiping back a few stray tears from his laughter.

"What do you mean," Botan asked lowly. "I could slice you into pieces as thin as winter sunshine."

He laughed again. "It pleases me that you aren't quite ready to give in yet, my darling. Keep in mind this, however—someone was watching us from the bushes. I can only assume he saw the way you oh so feverishly kissed me. And I have no doubt that he knows exactly what you're about.

Oh shit, Botan thought, perhaps the first time she had ever dared to curse in her life. Someone knows what I am. She felt like crying.

"Yes," he smiled maddeningly. "I thought that might get your attention."

"Bastard," she hissed as a tear trickled down her cheek.

"Poor Botan," He chided gently, wiping away her stray tears with his handkerchief. "Can't seem to quite find your place, can you?"

Her breath caught on a sob as she crumpled to the floor. They know. They know. They know and there's nothing I can do about it. Oh, God, what am I going to tell Kurama and Hiei? They won't believe a word I say. After all, laughter bubbled up from her hysterically, I am a spy.

Mamoru watched all that was going on with a happy smile on his face. "I couldn't have asked for better timing for you to be found out. That was truly a marvelous act you put on for whoever was watching. Oh, an if anyone asks you about a note, be sure to tell them that you wrote it, all right my darling?"

"You can't beat him," Botan snarled, trying feverishly to quell her tears. "He has no weaknesses!"

His smile grew broader. "You fail to see that your work has paid off in spades. You notice your contempt for me, and yet you fail to see his love for you. Despite what you think, my dearest and lovely Botan, he does have a weakness. And I have every intention of using that weakness until he gives into me."

He looked down at Botan on the ground, and felt a large wave of glee. It was nice seeing Botan in the position that she most belonged. "And now, I bid you adieu, my love. I can't stand for sticking around, I have a war to win."

With that, he spun around and disappeared into the forest, whistling happily.

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Saeka: Okay, I lied, it wasn't really one sitting, more like 27. (--sighs--) Blame the short attention span.

That chapter made me sad to write it... Though the genera did say angst but... damn, I think that I just want to murder every dumbass in this story and then send Botan and Hiei off to Tahiti or some krunk place like that...

Man, I almost barfed on my computer when I wrote that gay nasty scene with Botan and Mamoru. (--shudders--) Most assuredly, I can safely say with confidence that I have grown to despise Mamoru.

I feel bad--I haven't given the reader-chans any fluff at all in the past two chapters...

Reader-chans: (--throw their shoes at Saeka--) DARN RIGHT!! WHERE'S THE HIEI BOTAN FLUFFINESS THAT WE LOVE??

Saeka: (--winces--) Trust me, I love it too, and I promise that there will be ample amounts in the next chapter or the one after that... Meh, I miss the fluffiness too..

Does that sound nifty?

Ta dudes! Don't forget to review!

Reader-chans: (--start signing petitions to get more fluff--)