A/N: Thanks for reviewing; I hope everyone continues to enjoy this story. It's not easy to try and write a lemon while keeping everyone in character but I'll give it a shot. Hm...now the big question is...which chapters to include lemons in? Oh yeah, Yukina WILL be going through the 'traditional' Koorime reproduction cycle...only...well, why ruin the surprise?
Driven by Instinct, Guided to Love
Chapter Two: What Drew Me to You
I'm worried about Hiei. He wasn't acting at all like himself today. I wonder what's wrong. I hope he's not sick. Hiei, get sick? I guess it's possible...
These thoughts among many others raced through the baffled mind of the blue-haired ferry girl as she wandered down the sidewalk of Yusuke's home town. She was disguised in ningen clothes, a hot pink tank top beneath a long-sleeved black top that fell midway down her back (left unbuttoned). The wide legs of her flared jeans drug the ground as she walked lost in thought.
After work she'd hustled away from Reikai before Koenma could assign her any last minute tasks. Honestly, she had a human body again, that meant she required a certain amount of rest, food, and other essentials to stay healthy. Sometimes she seriously questioned if Koenma knew that before giving her the ningen vessel.
Oh well, she'd made up her mind to go and pay the reclusive fire youkai a visit. Just to check up on him, then she'd high tail it out of there before he could get into one of his 'if you don't get out of my business this instant I swear I'll deliver you a slow and painful demise baka onna' moods.
Botan shuddered as she thought about how cranky the dark-haired half koorime could be.
Hm, now which tree is he sleeping in? Oh yes! There he is. Botan smiled upon spotting the napping youkai hidden amidst the autumn leaves. "Hiei!" she chirped from below his branch.
Somewhere within the mass of beautiful gold and bright orange leaves the fire demon's eyes twitched slightly, a mischievous yet contented smile spread over his lips. "Mmm...onna," he muttered, clearly still asleep.
Botan blinked in confusion, "Um, Hiei?"
Hiei's head started to rock back against his hands which were folded behind it. His smile grew as he whole body seemed to stretch out. "Botan....!" he murmured as if it were the sweetest, most enticing name in the world.
The startled ferry girl's cheeks went bright red at this. Oh my gosh! she gulped, He's worse than I thought! The fever has made him delusional!
Before Hiei's groggy ramblings could get any louder—or his unconscious actions any more suggestive—Botan leapt up on a lower branch and hastily climbed higher until she was sitting on the far end of the one Hiei was reclined on.
"HIEI!!!" she yelled while fiercely shaking the branch.
Crimson orbs flew open, limbs struck out in every direction, in an attempt to block an unseen attack Hiei had almost fallen off the branch. He managed to catch himself at the last minute though by grabbing the branch with both arms. He now resembled a large, rotted, piece of fruit dangling from the tree.
Very amused laughter caught his attention, very familiar amused laughter. "ONNA..." he growled.
Botan's giggles died down as she stretched out a hand to help the irritated fire demon up. "I'm sorry Hiei, it's just that you were..." she trailed off when Hiei's face turned beet red in embarrassment, "...uh, you were...having a nightmare! That's it! You were tossing and turning and muttering stuff I couldn't hear so I decided to wake you up!"
Arching an eyebrow Hiei looked at the sweatdropping ferry girl skeptically. Well, if she wasn't going to acknowledge what he'd really been dreaming about then neither was he. Hn, maybe I'm lucky. Maybe she really is too foolish to realize that she was currently starring a disturbing daytime fantasy of mine. Yuck, I can hardly believe it myself.
Botan leaned forward on her edge of the branch studying Hiei in order to figure out what illness he might've caught. Whatever it was, it had to be seriously potent to infect Hiei. And incredibly strong to induce THAT sort of delusion! She only hoped it wasn't catching.
Hiei's gaze met her own as he too leaned forward, trying to figure out what in the world had brought Yusuke's assistant to his tree. "Don't tell me it's another mission from that knee-high fool Koenma."
"Huh?" Botan questioned, "Oh no! Nothing like that. It's just...well...I was worried about you."
Noting the pink tint to her cheeks a small trace of a grin appeared on his face. "Worried about me? Why would you be worried about me?"
"B-because," Botan stuttered nervously, "earlier today you seemed...unwell. Like maybe you were coming down with something? And then I arrived to find you um..." Hiei's eyes darkened warning Botan to choose her words carefully or else, "...having a nightmare! So I want to check on you."
"Hn," Hiei reclined back against the tree again, "well as you can see I'm perfectly fine. Now mind your own business onna. Go away."
"Well!" Botan huffed pushing herself up to a standing position she accidentally bonked her head on a higher branch.
This caused Hiei to chuckle a bit. "Such a baka onna." he mused.
Rubbing her sore head Botan glared daggers at him. His smug expression never once changed. "I don't know why I bothered wasting my time with you anyway Hiei. It's not like you'll ever appreciate the fact that someone was actually worried enough to come check on you!"
"I don't need anyone to watch out for me onna." Hiei placidly replied, "You've wasted both our times."
"Fine!" Botan summoned her oar, now that she was hidden from view it would be easy to just fly home rather than walk or shell out bus fare.
"Leaving?" Hiei's tone seemed pleased.
"Yes, for your information I'm going home to my apartment!" she stated hotly.
Hiei lifted his head from his chest, "You have your own apartment? In Ningenkai? How pointless, did Koenma buy if for you so you'd stop pestering him?"
"NO!" Botan exclaimed, balling her fists in anger. "I bought it myself Hiei and it's quite a lovely place!"
"Hn."
"Ooo..." Botan jumped atop her oar and rose to the treetop preparing to fly off. I swear he's the most arrogant, frustrating, no good, belittling jerk I've ever met!
Hiei tilted his head upwards and watched the pissed ferry girl fly off into the heavens and out of view. Intent on resuming his nap...sans unnerving fantasy...he rested his chin back on his chest.
But alas, sleep would not come. In fact, he hadn't the slightest desire to doze off as was typical for him when he had spare time and wasn't training or visiting Yukina. Right now he felt...restless. A strong, indescribable pull kept him awake and on edge. It had happened just as soon as the ferry girl had departed. He couldn't explain it, but for some reason, he wanted to follow her.
Hn, I must be curious about this new 'apartment' of hers. he concluded, I'll just drop by, scoff at the place, enjoy watching smoke poor from her ears, and then be on my way.
With this in mind he quickly sprinted off, using his Jagan Eye to keep track of the blue-haired girl's movements.
Upon arriving at her apartment the peeved ferry girl spun her oar out of existence then stormed into her bedroom plopping face down her lavender comforter with the sky blue swirls and bright yellow stars.
"Grr...HIEI!" she growled into one of her pillows.
Why did he always have to be so...him! Every time she tried to get herself on friendly terms with the moody little half koorime he'd go and push her away, sometimes physically but mostly with his harsh words and vivid threats. Well she was done trying! Hiei could waste his life away sulking and watching from afar as the rest of the gang lived out their lives, actually participating in them rather than watching and making cynical remarks from the shadows.
The soft creak of a loose board reached her ear. Snapping her head up she froze, listening again for the noise. While she heard nothing she could still feel a pair of strange eyes staring at her from behind.
She materialized her metal bat in her left hand which was currently tucked beneath her pillow (a.k.a. muffler/silencer) then rapidly spun around brandishing her weapon, "Alright who the hell are y-"
A pair of scarlet colored orbs gazed back at her emotionlessly.
"-HIEI?!"
"Hn, is this the way you handle your anger?" he replied in a bored tone, "You're even more pathetic than I thought."
Growling she hopped off her bed and stalked up to the unwavering demon. "I don't remember ASKING for your opinion Hiei! And just what are you doing here anyway?!"
Well at least she didn't start crying like some helpless fool. Hiei observed with mild relief. He hated when the baka onna got all misty-eyed over nothing. I wonder if she knows how utterly stupid she looks when she's mad. Her nose scrunched up, shoulders raised, face red, and those gorgeous eyes flickering with fire...
Botan's features relaxed a bit when she saw Hiei's expression take on a slightly dazed almost dreamy look. Is this his fever coming back?
"Um, Hiei?" when he didn't reply she waved her hand in front of his face, "Hiei? Hiei!"
Jolting out of his odd train of thought Hiei tried to salvage his pride. "You don't have to yell onna! I'm right here!"
"Maybe physically," Botan muttered, "but your brain's off in LaLa Land."
"LaLa Land?" Hiei inquired as if Botan were some jabbering lunatic.
Nodding she replied, "I still say you're sick Hiei."
"I am NOT sick." Hiei insisted, growing tired of Botan's ridiculous speculation.
"Well if you're not sick-" the bright magenta eyed girl placed a finger under her chin and twisted her head sideways to think.
For some reason Hiei found this irresistibly cute. CUTE?! Hiei mentally slapped himself in the head. I can't find the onna cute! I don't find ANYTHING cute! Okay, well maybe Yukina...but she's always playing with those cuddly little forest animals. Ugh, it's a wonder I don't cavities from watching stuff that sugary sweet. And now Botan's...
Botan glanced down at Hiei from the corner of her eye and saw him staring up at her, his face going from pink to deep red. She swore she could hear his heartbeat, and it was rapidly increasing. Hm...what on Earth could make Hiei act this way? Especially if he isn't sick? I wonder...AHA!
Botan bounced up and down happily after putting the pieces together then flashed a 'V for Victory' sign in the startled fire youkai's face.
"Bingo! Bingo! Bingo!" she cried joyously, "I've got it Hiei! I know why you're acting all spacey and why you keep turning every shade of red in the book!" she clasped her hands together and tucked them under her tilted cheek, "Aw Hiei, you're in love!"
"WHAT?!" Hiei grew rigid, nothing would move, not his arms or his legs, he was glued to his spot on the cloudy blue carpet. I'm not in love! What the heck is that baka onna thinking?! I'm Hiei Jaganeshi! I don't fall in love!!!
"Oh Hiei, who is she?!" Botan asked, forgetting all about being angry with him. If Hiei was in love then she could certainly understand the weird mood swings.
Narrowing his eyes the demon replied dangerously, "Listen to me onna, and listen to me good. I am NOT in love!"
Waving her index finger with her free hand on her hip she merely 'tsked' him. "You can't fool me Hiei Jaganeshi. I've known a lot of people in my afterlife—both human and demon—so I certainly know a love struck heart when I see one."
Hiei's right eyebrow was twitching, his eyes and fists clenched tightly. He felt a vein in his forehead, half covered by his white bandanna, starting to throb. "Baka onna! If you don't shut your mouth right now I swear I'll-"
Oh this is sweet! Botan thought with a smirk, All those years of being teased and threatened and now I FINALLY have a chance to get back at Hiei! This'll be so much fun! I can't wait to tell Yusuke and the others! I'm sure they'd like some revenge too, I know Kuwabara would.
He began to get nervous when her expression changed from moronic bliss to devious scheming. In spite of himself Hiei gulped. Botan took this unusual sign of weakness as her cue.
"Hiei and his girlfriend sittin' in a tree!" she chanted with the smirk growing wider and craftier.
Growling deep within his throat the fire demon stood on his tiptoes, getting right in her face, "Onna...!" he warned.
But Botan was undaunted, revenge was sweet and this was all hers. Besides, when was she likely to EVER get a chance like this again?!
"K-I-S-S-I-N-" she continued placing strong taunting emphasis on each letter.
Gnashing his fangs together Hiei snarled and pounced.
"G!!!" Botan shouted as she was knocked back onto her bed.
Looking up she saw a very agitated fire demon looming over her. He had her wrists pinned down just above her head and was straddling her waist, using his weight to trap her.
Seeing the shocked and frightened look his prey was giving him Hiei felt something sinister and primal deep within him take over. His scowl turned into a fang revealing smirk, his blood red eyes glowing brighter, he bent down so that his nose was pressed against the shaken girl beneath him.
"I warned you," he whispered in a smooth yet malevolent tone.
Botan swallowed hard and tried to wriggle out of his firm grasp. The clawed fingers only tightened around her bruising wrists. "H-Hiei?"
His fiery eyes became half lidded as he moved his face down the side of her head, stopping when he came to her ear. He gave it a playful lick. "Onna," he moaned seductively, enjoying the helpless whimpers escaping the woman's throat.
Moving down to the base of her neck he paused. Botan could feel his hot breath brushing against her exposed and goose bump covered skin. He latched his mouth onto the spot where her neck and left shoulder met. There he licked and sucked on the one particular spot causing Botan to moan and thrash about. She felt him smirk against her skin then arched up a bit as he raked his fangs across the tender spot.
It was as if every nerve in her body had sprung to life with extreme sensitivity to his unnerving yet alluring actions. Her breath hitched as she sensed an extreme amount of his youki flare up around them. Wh-what's he doing?! she panicked.
"Botan..." he half whispered, half growled, "...you're MINE!"
Magenta eyes tripled in size as Botan's mouth hung open in a silent scream. Hiei had just plunged his fangs into the tender circle he'd made at the juncture of her neck and shoulder. H-He MARKED ME!!! Botan's mind kept screaming. Her only coherent thought echoed throughout the chambers of her dumbfounded mind as she lay paralyzed beneath him.
Taking advantage of her motionlessness he dug his sharp incisors in deeper. Blood flowed from her soft flesh in steady rivers and he greedily lapped it all up. This was something he'd felt driven to do. His mind had ceased to function. His conscience was completely gone. Right now he had one desire and one desire alone...
To make the ferry girl his: mind, body, and soul.
Amanda/Artiste: Ah the power of sleep deprivation! -- Zzz... O.O Oh! Who? What?! Um yeah...heh...that's all for this chapter. Review and let me know what ya think. Oh, no flames! Next Chapter: Will Hiei have his way with Botan? What will she think of him when this is over? Or...is it just beginning?! MWUHAHAHAHA!!! (cough) Okay...I'm going to bed now.
