A/N: Thank you for your reviews! I will be tossing a LEMON in this chapter. Hope you'll enjoy it. There just aren't enough of H/B lemon scenes out there. LOL, I'm making my small contribution to the cause. And to answer a question: I collected my information about koorime reproduction from different Yu Yu Hakusho sites, many centered on Yukina. So what I've read said they have twin girls every 100 years (one said they only reproduce once a lifetime though so I assumed it was only on their 100th birthday). And from what I understand koorime have live birth meaning they do get pregnant. Again, I'm assuming that they conceive the twins on their 100th birthday and then carry them to term (for the sake of simplicity I'm going to make it nine months). Yes Botan will be paired with Hiei. And as for if ferry girls get maternity leave...I guess we'll find out. Excellent questions, hope that answered everything.
Driven by Instinct, Guided to Love
Chapter Four: The Mating Frenzy!
It was sometime in the early morning hours, just before the sun made its routine ascendance into the pastel colored sky. The city was peaceful; most of its residents still lay fast asleep in their beds. In an apartment complex well into a nice middle class section of town the occupant of apartment 260B was slumbering soundly on her soft bed.
The soft hum of sparse traffic drifted to her ears. The pale gleam of a few faint moon beams lit the darkness created by her resting eyes. The cool night breeze blew gentle gusts of wind through her slightly opened window.
Brr...
And caused a few chill bumps to appear over her bare skin.
Wait a minute... Botan's brow furrowed in confusion ...BARE SKIN?!
Shooting upwards she sent the dampened rag on her forehead flying across the room and right smack into her watcher's face.
Bright magenta eyes were open wide in surprise while she felt around for her comforter to try and cover her nakedness from the distracted stranger's view.
She would've found it a lot faster if she hadn't been trying to cover all her 'private' regions with her left arm. Glancing down she finally noticed that her comforter had been pulled down and lie in a heap at the foot of her bed. Her sheets were tucked tightly around the rim of the mattress.
Botan you neat freak! she scolded herself; This'll teach you to obsess over making your bed!
An irritated growl brought her attention back to the solitary figure lurking in the shadows opposite her bed. She watched as he grabbed the wet cloth, yanked it off his face, and then slung it to the floor.
A small gasp escaped her lips as she noticed two violent red glowing eyes leering back at her. She knew of only one youkai with such a piercing stare. "...Hiei?"
He answered her with a deep throated growl.
Shaking a bit she tried to recall everything that had just happened. Okay...okay...calm down Botan ol' girl. Things can't be as bad as they seem right now. Gotta think...okay, I was in my apartment grumbling into my pillow when Hiei showed up. Then I taunted him about having a crush (who turned out to be me!) and he got mad and tackled me. There was that—ahem—unexpected close call on my bed. Then I remember Koenma calling to give me the 'news flash' about Hiei's 'condition'.
She gulped. !
"Hiei will be driven by his koorime instincts to create offspring on his hundredth birthday. And since he is a male and does not possess the ability to reproduce asexually he will most likely seek out a mate and obtain children through her."
I-I can't be a mother! she thought on the verge of a panic attack. And-and ME baring HIEI'S children?! Little Hiei Jaganeshis running amuck all over the three worlds!!
A smirk spread over Hiei's stoic features when his Jagan Eye caught a glimpse of Botan's most recent mental image. Yusuke would quit, the oaf would die of a heart attack, and that fool Koenma would cry like a baby.
This having kids stuff was sounding better to him all the time!
"H-Hiei," a tentative voice called his focus back to the present.
"Hn?" he asked, locking eyes with his mate.
Futilely trying to cover her exposed body with her arms the ferry girl did her best to handle things with a level head. "W-What happened to my clothes?"
"I removed them." came his simple reply.
A deep crimson blush spread over her cheeks. "Y-you what?! And just who gave you permission to undress me?!"
Crossing his arms he leaned against her desk chair. "Baka onna, I don't need anyone's permission to undress you. You're my mate."
H-How can he say all that with a straight face?! she twitched. "Hiei...WHY did you undress me?!"
Shivering a bit in anticipation of a dark and lustful answer she gripped her body tighter. Just how long had he been standing there? Staring hungrily at her naked body? And...and had undressing her been the extent of his actions?!
"You fainted," he explained, "that baka boss of yours ran his mouth about my hormones and you didn't take it very well."
"Oh," Botan was about to sigh in relief but had her relaxed mood cut short when Hiei suddenly disappeared from his spot against her desk chair and just as suddenly reappeared leaning over the foot of her bed.
(Things are gonna heat up from this point. Lemon warning coming soon!)
His scarlet eyes were drinking in every inch of her body. She nervously chewed on her bottom lip as he ran a hand under her chin and let it trail down over her chest. He stopped when she refused to move her arms.
"I undressed you for two reasons. One, because you were hot to the touch after you passed out. I needed to cool you down." he grinned seductively, "But now that you're feeling better, I can move on to my second reason for ridding you of those bothersome ningen garments."
Crossing her legs and moving her spare arm behind her she pushed herself backwards as he crawled forwards. Something was very peculiar about his behavior now. A wild and dangerous new energy was beginning to show through his aura.
"And that is-" he chuckled darkly as several less powerful copies of his Jagan Eye opened up all over his increasingly muscular body "-to fulfill my instinctive desires!"
He reached out again only his claws were definitely much sharper and his skin tinted green. His black and white hair jutted out on each side giving him a truly demonic appearance. This was Hiei's truest form. She had only seen it once and heard tell of him taking it again during the Netherworld's attack. Needless to say, if Hiei grew desperate enough to transform, he was dead serious about getting his way.
"Wait...HIEI?!" she screamed more so out of shock than pain as he pounced, knocking her back flat on the mattress and straddling her...deja vu.
"I've waited long enough onna," he declared in a voice much raspier and less nonchalant that his usual tone. Yellow eyes shone blood red with desire. "I'm one day away from having lived a full century. No doubt in human years you're much older than me." he bent down and placed small bites along her jaw bone working his way up to her ear. "So it's a good thing we demons don't measure age the way you humans do."
Age...age...AGE! Botan's face lit up when she thought she'd found a way to make Hiei second guess his actions. "Hiei! If-if you and I both mark each other then my human body will start to age. I can't very well get pregnant AND keep my eternal youth. There had to be a catch somewhere to getting my own body again you know?"
Of course technically sense I'm already dead and a ferry girl of Reikai my body would age somewhere between the rate of ningens and youkai. she mused then realized too late her mistake when the fire demon above her started to laugh.
"I heard that onna," he chided leaning down so that his glowing Jagan Eye was in plain view, "you shouldn't try to trick me. I know your every thought, your every desire. And right now, the thing you desire most...is me."
Swallowing hard she started frantically struggling against his hold. His previously outstretched hand had once again managed to snatch both her wrists and keep them pinned above her head. His free hand was feeling up her breasts. She felt like rolling her eyes in remembrance of the communicator conversation with the dense ruler of Reikai.
She shut her eyes tightly against the oddly pleasurable sensation of Hiei raking his tongue across her ear. This combined with his attentions to her breasts and the rapid thrusting movements of his pelvis against her lower half were beginning to drive the beleaguered ferry girl wild. Oblivious as to what the hell had come over her she simply lay still and try to block out all that was happening to her.
That inexplicable fire in her lower abdomen was blazing out of control. Her body...his body...she wanted something...needed him...to...to what?!
BOTAN! she scolded herself, Y-you can't be serious! You can't do this! You KNOW you can't do this! Hiei will be furious when tomorrow has passed and he realizes what I let him do. I-I have to get out of here...
Bucking and jerking about in various directions she attempted to free herself of the lustful demon's grasp. As if he wasn't strong enough before, in his full demon form he was near unstoppable! Even Yusuke couldn't beat him alone before...not without the unexpected help from Kurama. Well, there was no Kurama here, no Yusuke either. Heck, at this point she'd be happy for a little blue Puu!
"Hiei!" she moaned piteously as his hand left her breasts and went straight for his metal belts. He quickly tugged away at the restraints, desperate to rid himself of the baggy black pants he was wearing. They just so happened to be the only article of clothing he still had on. Even his boots had been kicked aside some time after Botan had lost consciousness. He must've been planning this while I was recovering.
"Botan..." he murmured, bending back down and pressing his lips firmly against hers.
That was it! He was doing IT again! Using her name, making her heart race, turning her knees to quivering masses of gelatin!
Opening her eyes to look up into his she blushed the deepest hue of red imaginable when she noticed that Hiei—just like herself—was now completely nude.
Dropping her head back down on the pillow she panted heavily. I don't believe it. H-he's...GORGEOUS! I mean...who knew that under all those layers of dark bulky clothes he was hiding such a handsome...oh my gosh! NO! No Botan! You can't start thinking such thoughts! You're a ferry girl for crying out loud! Set an example!!
Subconsciously she tilted her head upwards and her bright magenta orbs wondered back to Hiei's glistening and well sculpted body. Giving a startled and self reprimanding "EEP!" she jerked her head back down again, her whole body turning red when she heard Hiei's prideful snickers.
He was grinding against her while she whimpered and fidgeted about. Teasing her, he was going to make her BEG to be taken.
Figures he would pull a stunt like this with me. she growled, That stubborn youkai is determined to find a way to torture me no matter what the situation!
"What's wrong onna?" a raspy, malevolent voice inquired from above her. "Are you ready to claim me now?"
CLAIM YOU?! she exclaimed telepathically. She didn't trust herself to speak; her body was already betraying her enough without the use of words. Do you know what that would DO?! It would strengthen MY bite mark! Making the bond stronger! We'd never find a way out of this then! It may already be too late NOW!!
Smirking against her sensitive skin he trailed kisses down her neck and up the side of her collar bone. He didn't stop until he'd reached the claiming mark. The scar was more visible than ever and completely radiating with his youki. This fanned his lust from a blazing flame to a raging inferno.
"AAAHH!!!" she shrieked as he plunged his fangs into the wound and brought forth fresh blood. If she had managed to wiggle even just one hand free she would've used it to poke out every single one of his dozens of eyes for that. The pain was immense and she felt hot tears spill forth and stream down her cheeks.
Hiei paused from sucking on the bleeding wound when he smelled the tears. Ripping himself away from his claim to her long enough to lick away the tears he whispered gently, "Mark me onna. Once you fulfill my one desire I'll devote my full attention to satisfying all of yours."
His otherworldly tone sent thrilling shivers racing down her spine. Oh how she longed to see him fulfill his love-crazed promise. Her mind was made up for her when he sent her telepathic images of him doing just that.
That's it! she told herself, Hiei will just have to berate me for my weakness. Hell I don't care if he kills me! I'm just so sick of him taunting me!!!
Letting out a loud frustrated growl she flung her arms around his neck the minute he pushed himself up on his elbows and yanked the cocky little demon's face down parallel with her own.
"This is absolutely the LAST time I'm going to let you win Hiei!" she announced before tilting her head and biting down hard on the juncture between his neck and left shoulder.
Demon flesh was particularly harder to penetrate than human flesh but Botan would be damned before she'd give Hiei the satisfaction of watching her have to try more than once to claim him.
With extreme vigor she sank her teeth into the green tinted flesh smirking to herself when she heard Hiei hiss in pain. Take THAT Mr. Ningens-Are-Such-Weak-and-Pathetic-Creatures!
While Hiei had managed to drive his incisors much farther into her flesh than she had managed to pierce him she still felt an overwhelming since of pride when bursts of inky red and purple blood spilled into her mouth.
Unsure of what the heck to do at this point (it's not like she had a PhD in demonic mating rituals) she thought back to Hiei's obsession with lapping up the blood from her wound and swallowed.
I'm going to be so sick in the morning. she realized. Ningen stomachs were not made for the consumption of youkai blood.
Nevertheless she repeated the action until the wound ceased to bleed. A bright fuchsia glow surrounded her body and she watched captivated as it began channeling itself into the wound.
Is that...my spirit energy? she wondered. It did seem like a logical occurrence given what had happened with Hiei's youki. Her fascination was short lived when a sudden dizzy spell forced her to lie back.
Looking up she saw Hiei gazing back down at her with widened eyes, no longer glowing crimson red but back to their soft yellow hue. Small red irises shrank a bit as his features relaxed into a look of contentment and...pride? Was he proud of her?
"Botan," he smiled, a genuine smile, "koibito."
She returned his smile and watched happily as his form shifted back to normal. The extra eyes closed and faded and his skin resumed its light shade of tan. She giggled when his hair didn't resume normal form and instead jutted out in all directions making it look like a skunk had just exploded on his head.
"What?" he asked slyly.
Shaking her head she reached up and ran her fingers through his hair. Her other hand was still resting at the base of his neck. With a sly grin of her own she pulled him down towards her and initiated a passionate kiss.
His eagerness to deepen the kiss surprised her. Could this truly be the real Hiei back in control? Or did his primal side remain even though his truer form had faded?
Reluctantly pulling back she stared him in the eyes. "Hiei," she spoke to the bewildered demon, "are you...you...again?"
Realizing what she meant he smirked and moved in for another kiss. "Hn, baka onna, who else did you think was going to make love to you?"
When he'd finished probing her mouth with his tongue for a second time he lifted himself back up onto his elbows and gazed down in contented amusement at his blushing mate.
"So..." she began nervously, "...you are going to keep your promise?"
"My word is something I take very seriously Botan." he informed her earnestly.
"Oh," she shifted slightly beneath him, wishing she knew how he truly felt about her now, "well you don't have to. I mean-"
She stopped when he abruptly laid a finger over her mouth. "This is one promise I'm going to enjoy keeping."
(...Warning: Lemon. Scroll down to next announcement if you don't like these!...)
Before she could utter another syllable her mouth was covered by his. He plunged his tongue back into her moist cavern and moaned as he came into contact with her tongue. They wrestled for dominance, Botan not really caring if he won, just dying to intensify the kiss.
Never had she imagined herself with Hiei. He'd always seemed so cold towards her. The human race in general seemed to particularly disgust him. She supposed it had all been some sort of act all along. Just a way to keep everyone at a distance. If he'd truly despised humans as much as he'd claimed then he would've left Yusuke to die or better yet, killed the young spirit detective himself. After all, he would've had the whole 'revenge' excuse. Not that that would've made Koenma go any easier on him when it came to punishment.
Her thoughts were scattered when she felt his clawed fingers rubbing circles along her inner thighs. She hadn't even noticed how her hands instinctively and almost expertly had started to roam his perfect form. Everything they did seemed rehearsed to perfection now. Each erotic movement was flawless and elicited the desired effect upon the other.
With the window still open the early morning breeze was free to continually waft in and sweep their hair or fan their sweating bodies. The gradually growing hum of traffic was easily drowned out by the pleasure-filled moans and fervent cries of the two mating figures cloaked in the shadows of the bedroom.
His administrations grew faster and more intense with each second. She knew what was coming, knew it would hurt, knew it would mark something permanent and wonderful in both their lives, and she happily embraced the pain.
A scream of agony echoed off the dimly lit bedroom walls as Hiei thrust into the anticipating blue-haired ferry girl beneath him. He froze, waiting for her to adjust. It seemed unthinkable to cause her an ounce more pain than absolutely necessary.
Finally after a few ragged breaths and poorly suppressed groans she nodded for him to proceed. Slowly he began moving in and out of her. Never taking his eyes off her flushed face. Her eyelids drooped when he managed to hit a particular spot within her. Strong sensations of pleasure swept over her trembling form. She prayed he would hit it again and—to her extreme delight—he did.
Her cries of ecstasy filled the room and rang in his ears like a sweet enticing melody. She was screaming for more, for him to move faster, to drive her past the brink of her sanity and plunge with her into unbridled erotic euphoria.
So THIS was a youkai mating ritual. Heck, she could definitely get used to this. She only hoped her mind didn't snap before the best part. She wanted to be fully aware of what was happening when he reached his breaking point. She wanted to see the great Hiei Jaganeshi overcome with bliss. Wanted to see him grin down at her before collapsing in an exhausted heap over her panting form. Damn, his primal urges must have been transferred along with his youki into her bite mark.
"Hiei...!" she moaned again in a voice so full of need and affection he thought he'd lose himself right then and there.
"Botan...!" he growled softly. His climax was near, the ritual was nearing completion. Soon he'd have a mate AND kodomo.
Staring intently into his mesmerizing crimson eyes she sensed the end nearing too. Oh well, it wasn't as though it was the last time that they would get to do this. She'd personally see to that if need be. What? Ferry girl or not she was a woman, a thousand plus years abstinent, she'd earned the right to be a bit lusty when it came to her enticing little half koorime koi.
With a loud cry of "BOTAN!!!" he came into her awaiting vessel. Her back arched as she caught a brief glimpse of the one mental image she had longed to see, the one that would last her a lifetime. Hiei...her tormentor, her enigma, her ally, her mate...helplessly and hopelessly in love with her.
(End of first lemon!)
He hovered above her a moment gazing down with emotion-filled pools of dark red. Finally the last of his strength gave out and he slumped down on top of her listless form. Botan lay there panting; watching as Hiei's ragged breaths slowed then deepened.
Smiling at how easily sleep had come to her beloved fire youkai she decided to embrace it herself. Glancing over at her digital alarm clock she laughed inwardly, realizing she would be late for work.
A soft murmur caught her attention. Hiei's head twitched slightly as he stirred in his sleep. "Botan...I love you."
Smiling with happy tears welling up above her bottom lashes she wrapped her arms tightly around the fire demon and hugged him close. I'm sure Koenma can get along just fine without me for one day.
Hiei's grip tightened, his arms already buried under her resting form, holding her close, protective of his new family even in sleep.
"Hiei," she whispered, lazily moving a hand to brush the bangs from his brow she planted a tender kiss on his forehead, where the concealed Jagan Eye was embedded, "I love you too."
Yusuke and Kurama were rushing up the stairs of Botan's apartment complex. Just two floors away from her home. Kuwabara was nowhere to be found so they had simply come without him. After all, Hiei was about to MATE with Botan, this was an emergency!
...Flashback...
The communication mirror sat beeping on the nightstand beside the snoozing spirit detective. It had been going off for a good five minutes and yet the black haired young man simply tossed about in his sleep muttering incoherent comments to no one in particular.
"Hm...mmm...wha?" he yawned. "Go away Koenma you brat...I'm not tucking you in."
The brunette beside him awoke, annoyed by a loud beeping noise interrupting her dream. Sitting up on her elbows she looked around and spotted the communication mirror. "Yusuke," she whispered then shook his shoulder gently, "Yusuke!"
"Keiko?" he blurted out groggily, "Not again Keiko. Sheesh I'm not a machine!"
Blushing a deep pink she shut her eyes and growled as her eyebrow started to twitch. "Yusuke you jerk! Even in sleep you're a total pervert!!"
SLAP!!!
"AAAHH!!! HEY!" Yusuke awoke to a powerhouse slap from his annoyed wife.
Glaring at her and gingerly rubbing the red handprint on his cheek he climbed back into bed. "What the heck was THAT for?!"
"You're a real baka Yusuke." Keiko stated matter-of-factly, "You know that right?"
"Huh?"
Rolling her eyes she pointed past him to the nightstand, "That communicator's been going off for quite a while now. Over your mumbling I barely heard it. Koenma's not going to be very happy with you."
"Gripe gripe gripe..." Yusuke grumbled reaching over to pick up the device, "That's all anybody ever does around me!"
Flipping open the communicator he was hardly surprised to be greeted by a toddler's face with a giant light blue pacifier bobbing up and down. "Yeah what do you want? Some of us were trying to get some sleep ya know?"
"YUSUKE!" Koenma shouted, "YOU'D SLEEP THROUGH A LINE OF TEN HURRICANES PROCEEDED BY A SONIC BOOM!!!"
"Whatever," the detective yawned, "so, have ya got something important to say or did you just want someone to read you a bedtime story?"
Growling at Yusuke's typical lack of respect for authority the tiny ruler exclaimed, "This is serious Yusuke! I think Botan may be in real danger!!"
"Botan's in trouble?" Yusuke arched an eyebrow.
"Oh my!" Keiko gasped.
Moving around to see who had made the noise Koenma spotted Keiko over Yusuke's shoulder. "Oh, hi Keiko! It's me, the great and powerful King Koenma! I'm glad you're awake. Without your help Rip Van Winkle here would probably still be stumbling through dreamland!"
"Ha ha," Yusuke said sarcastically, "can we skip the pleasantries and get on with the message. You said Botan was in trouble, what's wrong?"
Turning serious again the brown eyed youth explained, "Well it's a rather touchy subject. Let's just say that if you don't get over to her apartment soon you two won't be the only 'happy couple' in the group."
"What?!" both Urameshis shouted.
Rubbing a pinky in his ear Koenma winced, "Please don't shout directly into the receiver."
"What do ya mean 'happy couple'?!" Yusuke demanded, this was getting freakin' weird. "Just what the heck is going on here?!"
Tugging at his collar Koenma prepared to tell yet another person some very private details about Hiei's mating instincts. 'Oh boy, if Botan doesn't beam me with her oar that temperamental fire demon will roast me for sure!'
"Well?!"
"Okay! Okay! It's like this...Hiei is part koorime therefore he is subject to certain instinctive behaviors passed down through the species for generations! He'll be turning 100 tomorrow and since the ice maidens reproduce at that time in their lives he'll be driven to as well." Koenma blurted out.
Yusuke and Keiko stared wide eyed and disbelieving.
"It's true!" the Reikai king insisted, "Look, koorime reproduce asexually. But Hiei isn't exactly built for that sort of thing. So he must find a mate in order to obtain offspring."
"S-so what does this have to do with Botan?" Keiko inquired nervously.
Sighing Koenma responded, "Well, I have good reason to believe that Botan is the mate he's been seeking."
"WHAT?!" Yusuke fell into a fit of laughter. "Y-you think BOTAN is the girl HIEI wants to spend the rest of his life with?! To...HAHAHA...have his CHILDREN?!"
"Yusuke!" Keiko snapped, embarrassed by his immaturity.
"Keiko's right Yusuke," Koenma still possessed an air of complete urgency. "This is no laughing matter. When I spoke with Botan earlier I noticed she was acting quite strangely. She was communicating from her apartment at the time and when I told her of Hiei's 'situation' she reacted most peculiarly. Next thing I knew she'd fainted and Hiei's laughter was heard. Before the line went dead he said something about 'celebrating his birthday early'."
"That can't be good," Keiko gulped.
Yusuke's laughter had abruptly ceased. 'H-He's serious?! But Botan and Hiei? He better not have hurt her! Oh man, why do I always have to get involved in these awkward situations?!'
"Hurry Yusuke!" Koenma instructed, "I'll contact Kurama and have him meet you at the apartment complex. I'm afraid there's no time to lose."
"Right!" Yusuke nodded, "I don't think the world can handle any more Hieis running around, swinging toothpick sized swords and shooting out mini Dragon of the Darkness Flames."
...End Flashback...
"Hurry Yusuke!" Kurama called, he was now nearly a flight ahead of him in the stairwell. Funny how the elevators always managed to be 'out of order' in times like these.
"Look I'm runnin' as fast as I can okay?!" the spirit detective snapped. "Why don't you just sprint up there and sprinkle some rose petals in the hall or something, ya could make them lead into a broom closet and buy us some time!"
Sweat dropping Kurama decided he really didn't want to know whether Yusuke was just being sarcastic or if he really thought such an obvious trick would work on Hiei.
Yusuke snickered imagining the ridiculous ploy.
...Yusuke's Humorous Mental Picture...
The door to the broom closet rattled about violently on its hinges. A thoroughly pissed off fire demon with raging hormones pounded against it from inside.
"DETECTIVE! FOX!! OPEN THIS DOOR NOW OR YOU'LL BOTH BE CARRIED OUT OF HERE IN URNS!!" the enraged fire youkai threatened.
"Now Hiei," Botan scolded waving her finger reprimanding as if the demon could see it, "serves you right for trying to take advantage of an innocent ferry girl like me."
"You won't be so 'innocent' when I get done with you, baka onna." Hiei replied slyly.
Kurama (who had taken a brief stroll down the hall and around the corner) came back carrying something sure to take care of the 'delicate situation'.
"Oh good, you found it!" Botan cheered.
Hiei grew silent, then nervous. "Found what?"
"Don't worry Hiei ol' buddy ol' pal," Yusuke laughed, "this'll take care of your little problem."
Before Hiei could make use of Jagan Eye the door to the closet was flung open revealing Yusuke and Kurama holding one those large mandatory fire hoses found on each floor.
"Sorry Hiei," the redhead smiled apologetically, "but it's for your own good."
Barely able to gulp the fire demon screamed...
"AAARRRGGGHHH!!!!!!"
...as he was suddenly blasted by a high speed stream of ice cold water!
...End of Yusuke's Comical Daydream...
Ignoring the mahogany eyed male's snickering the fox demon jerked open the door that led to Botan's floor and raced down the hall to apartment 260B. Yusuke followed suit and stood behind him as he knocked.
No answer.
He knocked again.
Still no answer.
Groaning uneasily the redhead took a few steps back and prepared to take drastic measures.
Yusuke regarded him curiously. "Hey, what are you-?"
Kurama's right leg shout out, delivering a swift kick to the door and knocking it in.
"Uh..." Yusuke sweat dropped, Botan's gonna kill us.
Barging into the dwelling they rushed around, flinging open doors, searching for any signs of Botan or—worse yet—Hiei.
"Hey!" Yusuke called, "We forgot this one!"
"It must be the bedroom." Kurama surmised, "We'd best hurry, it's nearly dawn. There's no telling what Hiei might've done to her."
"Oh c'mon," Yusuke scoffed, "like it's hard to guess!"
Choosing not to acknowledge his remark Kurama turned the doorknob and slowly pushed the door open.
The room was shrouded in early morning shadows making it hard to see. Once their vision adjusted they stepped inside for a closer look.
Yusuke was about to take another step forward when Kurama held up his arm, halting him. Following the kitsune's unnerved gaze he saw the pair of sleeping figures lying on the bed. The one on the bottom was decidedly Botan, the few rays of sunlight that were just now pouring in through the barely open window played off the shining strands of her powder blue hair. So if that was Botan, then the dark haired guy lying sprawled out on top of her was...
"HOLY CRAP!" Yusuke slapped his hands over his eyes, "IT BURNS!!!"
Feeling a little queasy himself Kurama forced his feet to move so that he drew closer to the unconscious pair.
Jaw dropping Yusuke snapped, "Kurama! What the hell are you doing?!"
"I've got to check for something," the forest green eyed male replied. "It would be on their shoulders, at the upper left collar bone."
Yusuke watched bewildered as Kurama approached the nude couple. Luckily for Botan her—ahem—lover's height (while short) was still enough to cover the more private areas of her body. Reaching out the fox tried to brush aside the hair that covered Botan's left shoulder. He sprang back startled when a low threatening growl emanated from the still sleeping Hiei.
Kurama and Yusuke exchanged uneasy glances before Kurama reluctantly moved to check Hiei instead.
That guy just doesn't know when to quit! Yusuke told himself, Guess he'll have to pull back a nub before he gets the hint.
Gently, as if removing a precious stone from a pressure sensitive pedestal, Kurama lifted Hiei's head up just enough so that his left shoulder was fully exposed. Both males gasped when they saw the scar there in the center of a faded gray bruise.
"Gross!" Yusuke gagged sticking out his tongue, "She bit him!"
Putting Hiei's head back down on the area between the ferry girl's neck and breasts Kurama smacked his forehead. "No! Don't you see? He's been claimed."
"He's been what?"
"Claimed." Kurama repeated. "It's a demon's way of marking his or her chosen mate. It's more permanent than a ningen wedding ring. And it's obvious from Hiei's reaction that Botan's been claimed as his mate already."
"So...we're too late?" Yusuke inquired.
"I'm afraid so." Kurama nodded.
"Well," Yusuke shrugged clasping his hands behind his head and casually strolling towards the door, "guess that means we can go home now."
"Yusuke!" Kurama scolded, "I can't believe you'd dismiss something this serious so easily. It's almost as if you don't care about them at all."
Feeling insulted the detective spun around angrily, "Hey! It's not like there's anything that either of us can do about this now! So unless you have some kind of really potent scar removal cream we're just gonna have to get the heck outta here and hope those two can get used to the whole husband and wife bit!"
"Normally I'd agree with you," Kurama replied calmly, "but I'm afraid that Hiei's instincts are responsible for this. His more primal side has temporarily taken control. What will happen when he wakes up himself again and realizes what he's done? And how do you think Botan will react to that?"
Sighing in defeat Yusuke trudged back over to the fox and looked down at the slumbering couple. "Fine, we'll stick around for the honeymoon. But I don't see what good it'll do."
Staring down at the pair on the bed Kurama's left eye widened as he let out a silent gasp. "Actually Yusuke, I think it'd be best if we waited outside. The 'newlyweds' are still in a very awkward position and both seem to be wearing Hiei's birthday suit."
Chuckling at the kitsune's small joke the detective followed him out of the room, Kurama shutting the door behind them.
Once they were gone and their footsteps indicated that were all the way in the living room the 'sleeping' fire youkai cracked open an eye.
So those fools think they can just barge in here uninvited and try to come between the onna and me? he thought angrily, That cretin Koenma must have sent for them when Botan's communication mirror was 'accidentally' stepped on.
Pushing himself up a bit he stared down at the truly sleeping ferry onna. She was absolutely breathtaking, slumbering peacefully, bathed in the fresh morning light. No one was going to take her away from him. He wouldn't have it. He loved her that was clear now.
Grr...but if anyone could find a loophole to this mating it would surely be that brat Koenma. he seethed. Sniffing the air around them he was a bit disappointed to find that her scent hadn't changed to that of an expecting female. But it was short lived disappointment. She was a ningen, not a youkai. Mated ningens didn't always get pregnant on the first try. Of course all I have to do is make sure to get her pregnant before the toddler can reverse this.
"Hiei..." Botan muttered sleepily, moving her arms which were hanging loosely around his neck so that he was pulled back down towards her, "...don't leave. Hiei...stay."
Smirking the flattered fire demon was confident that he'd be able to abide by her request, and make their new marital bond an eternal and unbreakable one.
Yukina sat outside on the top step of the final flight of stairs to Genkai's temple. The elderly fighter was out training, enjoying her second round of life and scheming up new tests of skill that would make her dimwitted apprentice cringe in fear.
The kind hearted koorime hummed softly to herself as she continued to work on her knitting. It was an interesting hobby that she'd picked up from Ruri (the ice maiden who had been the best friend of her late mother Hina). It was a bit unlike her to be up and about this early into the day but thoughts of her upcoming pregnancy simply wouldn't let her sleep.
The rhythmic tapping of footsteps caught her attention. Someone was coming up the temple steps. Looking up she spotted a familiar brunette pulling out a packet of what appeared to be gum. The woman approached her offering a smile and a friendly nod.
Smiling back she greeted the elder Kuwabara sibling cheerfully, "Hello Shizuru, it's very nice to see you again!"
"Same to you hon," Shizuru smiled, popping a square piece out from the packet and popping it into her mouth.
"What's that?" Yukina inquired.
Making a disgusted face the human girl replied, "Nicotine gum, doesn't taste so good but it does help calm the cravings."
Yukina seemed more confused.
Laughing good naturedly Shizuru explained, "I'm trying to quit smoking. Kurama's worried I'll get cancer or something."
"Oh," Yukina nodded sort of understanding.
"So, what'cha workin' on?"
Blushing slightly Yukina held her project out for Shizuru to see. It was a tiny pair of stockings for her new baby. "This is the second pair I've made. The other is on my dresser inside."
"Aw," Shizuru rubbed the material, "it's so soft, seems warm too, perfect for a baby."
"Thank you." Yukina smiled faintly before laying the article down in her lap and staring at it uneasily.
The brunette frowned, "What's the matter kid? Getting the pre-motherhood blues or something?"
When Yukina merely shrugged Shizuru sighed and plopped down beside of her. Placing a hand on her shoulder in reassurance she spoke, "Look, my idiot brother's already told me all about the whole becoming a single mom on your 100th birthday thing. In a way it sounds wonderful—but—in another way, it must really suck."
"But, I should be happy?" it seemed like more of a question than a statement from the sullen ice maiden.
"Yeah," Shizuru agreed, "and excited, and scared, and confused. A whole range of emotions are perfectly understandable right now."
A moment of silence passed between them as the young koorime thought about what her friend has just said. "Shizuru?"
"Yeah?"
"You said that Kurama was worried about your health...so you're trying to quit smoking." she began.
"That's right," the brunette nodded.
"Well, Kazuma's told me before that he's talked to you about it. But you never seemed willing to quit for him." the green haired female continued, "Why is it that you've decided to listen to Kurama's concerns?"
Understanding her reasoning a bit more now the elder Kuwabara replied, "Well, it's not like I completely ignored Baby Bro's concerns. It's just," her cheeks grew red as she searched for an explanation that her friend would understand, "with Kurama, things are different. I mean, I care about him a lot. And I know he cares about me. And it's different from Baby Bro, cause I know he cares too but...not in the same way that Kurama does."
Oh great, she winced, way to go Shizuru. Now the poor kid's completely lost!
Blinking at the anxious woman Yukina turned her answer over in her head a few times. This was most curious, this 'different way of caring' that Shizuru spoke of. "Is it, like the way that Yusuke and Keiko care for each other? The way that led them to become mates?"
"Exactly!" Shizuru smiled, "Wait..." she thought of herself and her increasingly closer relationship with the redheaded fox demon within the human body of Shuuichi Minamino.
Chuckling at the light brown eyed woman's conflicting expression Yukina felt that she now had a better understanding of the new level of 'love' that seemed to exist outside of the floating koorime island. There she had only known of the love between friends and mother and child (or siblings). But here, there was a whole new bond. The love shared between two people of a stronger emotional connection. These 'soulmates' possessed a love that was beyond words, something that she—like her mother—desperately longed for.
But...she frowned...will any man ever love me if I'm already a mother? He would have to accept my children as his own. I must always put them first! So...does that mean that I must always be alone?
"OH YUKINA BABY!!!" a male's loud and rather distinctive voice called from up ahead.
Shizuru put a hand to her face, "Here comes the Embarrassment Express, right on time."
Grinning at the comment Yukina tucked the baby stockings away into the fold of her kimono and stood to greet Kuwabara.
She didn't have to wait long before an odd orange hairdo appeared over the edge of the steps. "Yukina precious!" Kuwabara exclaimed, "It's so nice to see you again!"
"Hello Kazuma," she responded, wondering why in the world his hands were hidden behind his back.
"Ehehe...so, you look really pretty today my love. Nobody could even tell that you're...um...a mommy-to-be." he commented clumsily.
Yukina put her hand up and waved it correcting him, "Oh no Kazuma! That's not until tomorrow."
"Yeah Baby Bro," Shizuru muttered sarcastically, "our biological clocks are real particular about these things."
"Oh," he murmured then released a nervous laugh, "Well whatever! The important thing is that your beloved Kazuma Kuwabara, champion of romance and devotion, is here for ya babe!"
Yukina took a step backwards, unsure of what he meant by that.
He excitedly whipped his hands out from behind his back revealing two large gift bags with pale pink and blue colored tissue paper sticking out from the top. "For you my darling snow queen!"
Please tell me he didn't. Shizuru silently begged.
Staring at the bags in bewilderment the red eyed koorime sweat dropped, "What's all this Kazuma?"
"Gifts for you and our children my angel!" he announced proudly.
"You mean her children...dumbass." Shizuru corrected, mumbling the last part under her breath.
"Look sis, Yukina and I are lovers and we have been for a really long time now so it's the same thing!" Kuwabara shouted before whipping back around to the startled koorime, "Never mind her my sparkling ice maiden, she's just mad cause Kurama hasn't worked up the nerve to ask her out yet."
"O-oh." Yukina stuttered taking one of the bags and sitting back down, leaving enough space on the step for Kuwabara to sit next to her, opposite the side his sister was sitting.
Going through the bag she was surprised at all the thoughtful gifts her friend had bought for her and her ('their') future children.
A rattle, some cloth diapers, a stuffed cat, baby powder, bottles, and a hot pink pacifier shaped like a heart. Shizuru named off the items in her head as Yukina laid them out carefully on a large piece of pale pink tissue paper at her feet. You really went all out didn't ya Baby Bro? Too bad Yukina still doesn't get how serious you are about the whole 'eternal love and devotion' thing.
"Oh Kazuma," Yukina gasped holding up a frilly mint green infant sized dress, "this is all so...how very considerate of you! You know you didn't have to?"
"This is nothin'!" Kuwabara said proudly, "Just check inside the other bag!"
Hesitantly she obeyed and was stunned to see a wide assortment of newborn/infant boy things.
Shizuru's eyes widened. Why'd I ever agree to quit smoking? I could really use a cigarette right about now!
Standing up she decided it was best just to leave and get as far away from the misinterpreted bliss of her little brother as humanly possible. It was a rather tricky escape, considering that she had to step over a diaper bag, a tiny hand-painted wooden train engine, two bottles, a blue star-shaped pacifier, and a few more cloth diapers.
The young orange-haired man stared intently at Yukina who was looking down at a baby blue jumper she'd just pulled from the bag. She laid it on her lap next to the frilly dress with a baffled expression.
"It's in case ya have a boy...ya know...like your mom did?" he explained. "A-and even if ya don't, we can always return it! Or...uh...who knows? One of your girls may turn out to be a tomboy. N-not that there's anything wrong with that! I mean, my sister's kind of a tomboy. Please don't tell her I said that!"
Smiling she decided not to remind him that koorime only had twin girls. The only reason she had a brother was because her mother had reproduced through mating, as was against the intended koorime way. Truthfully, she wouldn't mind having a boy. She wasn't afraid of exile because she had chosen not to return to the island sometime after the great Makai tournament had ended.
Kuwabara rocked back and forth uneasily on the edge of the step. Yukina had been silently staring at the outfits in her lap for quite some time now. Oh great, he panicked, she hates the gifts!
A soft whisper, almost impossible for his human ears to detect, quieted his fears. "What was that Yukina?"
Still smiling she turned and met his gaze, "I said...thank you."
A goofy grin spread over his sweaty face, "Aw shucks, it was nothin' baby! Just tryin' to cheer you up!"
"Well this was very sweet of you." she grinned, "And I appreciate everything you've done for me Kazuma. You're a most wonderful friend."
Kuwabara nearly collapsed at this, "J-just a 'friend'?"
The smile fading a bit Yukina tried to figure out why that had made him so sad. He was a wonderful friend after all. He'd always been there for her. Offering a kind word or some amusing antic to brighten her day. Isn't that what he wanted? To be her friend?
"What's wrong Kazuma?" she asked, "Aren't we friends?"
"I guess so," Kuwabara replied trying to mask his broken heart. She really didn't understand what he was trying to be, the love that he showed her and had hoped she returned. "I mean, if that's all you want to be. It-it's certainly better than being strangers huh?"
Even he couldn't manage a grin for his own joke.
Watching him worriedly the green haired maiden couldn't understand what was so disheartening about being friends. What does he mean, "if that's all you want to be"?
Thinking back on their past encounters she searched for any clue as to what might have caused this odd behavior. He had admittedly always acted a bit strangely towards her in the past. But this had simply become a common puzzlement that she had grown accustomed to.
Unable to bear the harsh reality of Yukina's true feelings of solely friendship towards him any longer Kuwabara stood up to leave. "Um, I guess I really should get going. I have a class starting soon and the teacher gets real grouchy when I'm late."
The ice maiden looked up at him with teary scarlet eyes. "K-Kazuma..."
"Hey don't worry about it bab—ur—Yukina." he smiled, "I'll stop back by after school. I'm glad you like the gifts. See you later."
She felt awful as she sat there watching him slowly walk away. It felt as though she'd done something horrible to hurt him, almost as if she'd broken his heart.
A light suddenly went off inside her perplexed mind as all the pieces instantly came together, His heart! Oh Kazuma! All the compliments, the gifts, the outings, the flirting...it was all...real!
She couldn't believe it. Here she had been secretly wishing for a chance to find her soulmate, to love him and be loved in return. To know what it was to truly bond with a person on every possible level. All this time, and he'd been right there in front of her, pronouncing his love and doing his very best to prove himself sincere.
Unaware of how tightly she was now clutching the miniature outfits to her breasts she stood and bounded down the steps desperately calling out to the departing young man below. "Kazuma! KAZUMA WAIT! PLEASE DON'T GO YET!!"
Amanda/Artiste: Whoa...long...really long chapter! I honestly hadn't intended for it to be so...LONG. Eh, more reading fun for you and a big headache to proofread for me. Sorry for any typos, grammatical mistakes, etc. I've got 22 pages to check over! Some fun facts: Botan's apartment number was chosen by the first letters of baka ferry onna and their order in the alphabet (b2, f6, and o is just 0 so it wasn't in the thousands) and the B simply stands for Botan thus apt. 260B. Next Chapter: Can things be patched up between Yukina and Kuwabara before her 'big day'? Will Hiei succeed with his plan to keep Botan or will Koenma discover a loophole? Ooo! If a loophole is discovered...will Botan even use it?! Review and find out next update!
