Sherkoni - (nervous laugh) Yeah...sorry about the rather longer-than-usual wait. n.n; Thank you for the reviews...77...(faints)

Kurama - (nudges Sherkoni with his foot) Um...well, I suppose we should just continue on without her. -.-;

Yusuke - (clears throat) I'm a very skilled story-teller, actually. (cough) Once upon a time-

Koenma - It's not once upon time, it already started dingwat.

Yusuke - (eyebrow twitches) Well EXCUSE me. Ahem, this chapter Botan runs back to Spiritworld because Hiei threatened her with his Fist of the Mortal Flame, so I win the bet.

Kuwabara - (cough)Cheater(cough)

Yusuke - (-.-)o ANYWAY. Then they get back together and make out and sleep tog-

Keiko - --SLAP!-- Yusuke, you pervert!

Yusuke - X.x

Kurama - Hey where is Hiei and Botan? They were here...

Kuwabara - . - . - x.x I don't know.

Koenma - (opens random door with Hiei and Botan in it)

Botan - (yanks away) There's that eyelash! (cough) Hiei had an eyelash...on his...yeah. Right Hiei?

Hiei - (dazed smile)

Botan - (blush)

Koenma - (sweatdrop) Okay. (pulls door closed again) They aren't in there!

Everyone else - (anime fall)

Sherkoni - (wakes up) Erm....yes! Bow before me!

Kurama - x. Story. Now. (uses Rosewhip as rope to force Sherkoni to type)

Sherkoni - .'o Meep..

Chapter 4

Swords, Oars and Showers

Botan yawned, rolling her shoulders, trying to remove the laxness from the steamy, spring water. Her eyes idly wandered around the campsite, unknowingly searching for a certain fire demon. In moments they locked on their target, holding her brain's interest for some time. Suddenly, she snapped out of her reverie, finally realizing she had been staring at Hiei as he polished his sword. She quickly turned her head away, but with nothing else to look at, she quickly became bored.

With an exaggerated stretch, she rose to her feet and sauntered quietly over to the koorime. "Hiei?" She tried to make her face look as sweet as possible.

"Hn." His face didn't even twitch from his concentrated frown and he continued polishing.

She rolled her eyes, disappointed that her 'helpless-and-sweet' look had been wasted. And it usually worked so well. She decided to ask him anyway, despite her loss of advantage she had planned on. "I was thinking...why don't we go do something fun? You know, there has to be something to do around here..."

Hiei's eyes flickered up to her for a brief instant, but then trained back to his now blinding sword. "Demons' idea of fun is killing each other. Go ahead - be home before dark, though."

Botan growled at the amused sarcasm in his voice. "You....you are just so...impossible!" she spat, finally becoming too far irritated. When he didn't respond to her outburst once again, she turned on her heel and stomped back to the spot she had been sitting before.

She hugged her knees to her chest, letting her usually mild temper simmer down. She rocked slowly back and forth, observing the various plants and vegetation, instantly reminded of Kurama. From there her mind wandered to the other members of the Reikai Tentai, her friends and her work. And of course, thinking of those things brought Hiei back to her mind. She let out a loud groan, her voice sounding very desperate, "Puh-leeeeeeeeeeeaaassse!!"

Suddenly a sword whizzed towards her, landing with a soft thud in the dirt next to her. She let out a surprised shriek and scrambled away from the sword. "What was that for?!" she squealed, turning around to glare at Hiei who looked just as surprised as her.

He let out soft pants, his face slight dampened from sweat. "That," he pointed an accusing finger at her, "was your fault. Don't interrupt me when I'm training."

Botan blinked a few times. He had been training? Well that was news to her. "I didn't know you were training!"

Hiei rolled his eyes and walked over to her, snatching his sword up from the ground. He pointed the blade to the ground a few feet to the left of him. "Sit. Don't move. Don't speak," he commanded bluntly, turning to leave. "I can't guarantee I'll miss next time if you interrupt me when I'm focused on training."

"For how long?!"

"What?"

"How long will you be training!"

He lifted a shoulder in a barely detectable uncertainty. "I lose track of time."

Botan's jaw dropped. "W-Wait! I don't want to just sit there for who knows how long!"

He gave her a flat look. "Fine - since you insist - three hours."

Her eyes widened in disbelief. She opened her mouth, trying to stutter words of protest, but Hiei turned and after walking a good distance away, began training again. In minutes, his black shape became too much of a blur for Botan to track. "Great," she grumbled, placing her chin in her open palms. "I can't even watch him train."

She kept to his order and didn't move or speak. She tried to watch his movements, but the only time she couldn't even make out his form was when he stopped, stillborn in the air, flourishing a few perfected strokes before starting off again. Using her finger, she tried to copy his beautifully painted sword skills, but it only dampened her spirits. Her finger couldn't bend the right ways. Suddenly, an idea passed through her mind. She nervously glanced towards the black blur flitting around through the grass and air. Being as careful and quiet as she could, she rose to her feet. When she remained in one piece, she dared to take a cautious step in the opposite direction Hiei was training. She froze, waiting for a sword to come slicing through her gut, but she remained in the same spot, trembling, but unscathed.

With a satisfied smirk, she continued to trek away from the fire demon. She stopped after good distance, away from harms way, but still being able to see Hiei training. If you count witnessing the grass shift every now and then "seeing".

"This will give me something to do for awhile," she murmured to herself, summoning her oar to her hand. With an amused smile, she thrust her sword outward, swinging it in small circles. She sashayed a few steps to the side, thrashing her oar in an X in front of her. She tried to imagine she had the skill and form of Hiei, racing through the air, cutting through the wind like an artist brushes across a canvas.

With a quiet giggle, she realized she probably looked like an idiot, not a talented swordsman, but she was amusing herself pretending. She continued to thrust and swing her oar, spinning and thrashing it to copy moves she had seen with centuries of being the Grim Reaper. After lunging particularly hard, she spun on her foot to keep her balance, swinging her oar around as she spun.

She paused, a bit dizzy, but somewhat proud. Grinning like a triumphant child, she tried her 'spin-move' again, twirling around like a lovesick ballerina. Deciding that she liked her new thought of move, she thrust again, swinging her oar in a circle as she spun. Before she could stop herself, she let out a gleeful laugh, stepping to do it again.

"What IS that?" an amused, deep voice suddenly pierced the air.

Botan froze in mid-spin, turning to see Hiei standing with his arms folded precariously across his chest. Her face turned a beet red in embarrassment. "Um..." She stumbled for words, trying to hold on to whatever dignity she had left. "That's my new move."

He raised an eyebrow, his head tilting slightly to the right. "Oh? What do you call it?"

"The..." Botan said slowly, twisting her hands in the folds of kimono. "Um...Twirl of Raging Death!"

It was only his ever present pride that kept Hiei from releasing a grin. Instead, he managed a small nod of acknowledgment. He was surprised he didn't give her an uncomely insult for the ridiculously childish 'move' she found so entertaining. But he found it oddly....charming, that she was trying to swordplay on her own. No, not charming, he corrected himself, Amusing because she could never be in my league of skill even if she devoted her life to it. Not charming....or appealing.

"What?" she said, averting her gaze in annoyance. "I know what you're thinking, but I don't care."

"The day you know what I'm thinking is the day Kuwabara produces intelligence," he argued lightly, before his lips curved upward tauntingly. "I wasn't downgrading your new "move" either. But your form is atrocious."

Botan gave him a flat look. "Oh I'm so disappointed. I've practiced it all of five minutes WITHOUT any instruction. My life's goal! Thrashed! Beaten! Stomped upon by th-"

"Shut up, sarcasm doesn't become you," Hiei interrupted, giving her a dull look. When she simply blushed a light pink and looked away, he slowly brought the tip of his blade to the side of her oar dangling from her hand. "First, slow, triangular movement."

She gazed up at him in bewilderment. "Excuse me?"

He smirked at her slowly, his eyes darkening mysteriously. In a flash, she understood. She raised her oar up, giving him a confident grin. "How do I do it?"

He replied by taking the oar from her hands, placing his sword there instead. "If you're first learning, you should learn with a real sword so you don't develop bad habits."

She turned it over carefully in her hands, surprised at how light it was. "Wow," she softly voiced her thoughts. "It's a lot lighter than I would've thought. I would have thought one of the best swordsmen in Makai would have a heavy, powerful sword..."

"First of all," Hiei corrected curtly. "THE best swordsman in Makai. Secondly, heavy doesn't mean powerful. And finally, it's not light." He flicked his wrist carelessly, as if brushing off a fly.

Botan gasped in surprise as she suddenly toppled to the ground, the sword pinning her hands to the ground. She grit her teeth and tugged, but the once light sword was now too heavy to even lift. She glanced up to see Hiei smirking triumphantly down at her. She wanted to strangle him.

"My youki held most of the weight for you," he informed her before his eyes glowed for an instant and Botan felt the weight leave her hands. With a blush, she stood again, raising his sword in front of her.

He nodded and began to teach her the basic movements of simple swordplay. "Block. Again," he directed as they slowly positioned their swords in the way he had showed her. He paused again, naming the positions and showing her where to place the sword. She was surprisingly a fast learner and soon they were slowly playing out the moves. "1, 3, 7, slow...good. 2, 4, 8, triangular stroke....good. Block, twice - lunge. Very good."

Botan beamed from the rare praise. "Thank you."

"Faster?" he inquired, raising a challenging eyebrow.

Botan smirked. "I should hope so. I'm getting rather bored."

Hiei gave a soft chuckle before thrusting the small wooden handle of her oar at her. This time without issuing any commands, they sailed through the movements, not the speed of a battle, but fast enough you had to know what you were doing. After the set was finished, Hiei withdrew and gave her an appraising look. "You really aren't half bad. For your first time."

Botan grinned. "I actually kind of like it!" She pointed her sword teasingly at his chest. "Come mistro, teach me harder steps."

He put a finger on the edge of the blade and guided it away from him with a slight push. "You need to master the basics first."

Botan let out an exasperated sigh. "What do you mean? I know them well enough! It was easy the last time! I need something harder."

Hiei shook his head. "Hardly. A week or two more at least to master the basics."

Botan frowned, starting to get slightly irritated. "I just sparred with you, a master at it, and I thought it was incredibly easy!" She placed her hands on her hips. "I think I'm a little better than you think."

He snorted. "I think your heads been inflated too much by my casual adulation."

Botan pushed the sword at him again. "I'll prove it."

His eyes narrowed, his mouth tightening in subdued anger. He ran the edge of her oar along his blade. "I'm waiting." It was time to knock her off the cloud she seemed to be riding.

Botan set her face determinedly and lunged for the fire demon. He smirked before blocking -the simple block he had just taught her- with expert ease, guiding the edge of her oar in just the right place, knocking the sword out of her hand and into his.

Botan gaped in surprise, her hand still suspended in the air. Hiei simply gazed at her with his usual cold mask. After a few moments that felt like an eternity, she blushed hotly, dropping her hand in embarrassment. "Maybe I do need a lot more practice."

He handed her back her oar, remaining silent for his part. He sheathed his sword, his hot gaze never leaving Botan's face.

She dematerialized her oar and looked up, almost forced to take a step backwards from his intense gaze. She started to get nervous, but then she realized that Hiei's eyes always had that fiery spirit in them. Wait...when had she noticed that?

"You coming or will we have the pleasure of standing out here all night?" Hiei suddenly broke the silence, a hint of irritation in his voice.

Botan started, glancing around in surprise at the shadowed clearing. "Shoot!" she exclaimed in disappointment.

Hiei's face twisted into innocent confusion. "What?"

"I missed the sunset again!"

He rolled his eyes. "Hn, baka onna..." he muttered.

"Don't 'baka onna' me. I've never seen a Makai sunset before," she whined quietly.

Hiei snorted. "Whatever. Let's go."

"Can you see anything?" Botan whispered, as she stumbled on a protruding stick, invisible in the dark.

The koorime offered no reply, but simply raised his left hand. A small, dark flame sprang into existence, lighting the path for her underused eyes. She touched his shoulder to show her gratitude, and followed close behind.
They reached camp and Hiei started a small fire again. Botan laid back in the trampled grass where she had slept before. She was grateful when Hiei took his place next to her and she was saved having to ask for his protection again.

Suddenly, she remembered that she hadn't written hardly anything in her notebook! She whipped it out and flipped it open, taking out her pen as well. She held the slightly burnt writing tool in her hand, fondly remembering how Hiei had gently bandaged her finger. She blushed and began hurriedly turning the pages in her notebook. She shouldn't have dwelt on that memory so long.

"Sorry...about earlier," she offered meekly, trying to break the uneasy silence.

He shrugged and threw a rock into the flames, making sparks fly from the log it connected with. "Why are you apologizing?"

"I acted like an overly cocky jerk."

"That would make YOU sorry. But you did nothing to offend me."

"Oh," Botan sounded slightly surprised. "I guess, I would have been offended if someone was a jerk to me...or something."

"Are you trying to manipulate me into apologizing to you?" he inquired suddenly.

Botan's eyebrows flew up in surprise - my hell he was paranoid. She blinked a few times before bursting out in surprised laughter. Hiei glared at her. "What?"

She waved her hand with another giggle. "Of course not!"

Hiei rolled his eyes and turned his head again.

Botan shrugged him off and went back to her pink notebook. She stopped her page flipping at the 'Hiei's Personality' page. What had she learned today? Not much, she decided, but she still had to write down that red was his favorite color. Proud!, she thought with a start, quickly writing that down as well. She sighed in disappointment, she needed more than that for a whole day.

"What do you look for in a girl?" she asked, turning to face the fire demon.

He only looked mildly surprised, as if he were expecting such a question from her. "Well, considering I don't look for girls, that would be a...nothing," he answered with a fake, happy tone.

Botan rolled her eyes. "Okay...so what qualities would you like if you were to ever to have a girlfriend?"

"But I wouldn't."

"Alright, fine. Just pretend for a moment."

"Pretend?"

"Pretend you have a girlfriend."

"But I don't."

"If you ever DID have one-"

"I won't."

"Pretend!"

"But I never will!"

"IF - IF!"

"There is no if. I won't."

"Use your imagination!"

"I don't have an imagination."

Stubborn. She quickly wrote.

"Okay next question," Botan replied in exasperation, rubbing her temples.

"Oh no," Hiei countered with a cocky smirk. "Now you have to answer the same thing."

"But you didn't answer!"

"I thought I had made my point. It is a ridiculous question because I never will have a loved companion."

"That's not answering the question. You never answered the assets of WHAT QUALITIES."

Hiei brushed it off with a cool sneer. "If you don't intend to ever have a mate then I will accept the same answer."

Botan swelled with indignation. "Fine. For your information, I WOULD like a loved companion. And I would like him to be brave, funny, romantic, honest, have a sincere heart and an intelligent mind. He has to love me and admit it often. And it wouldn't be so bad if he was irresistibly sexy with enticing eyes and dark hair."

Hiei raised an amused eyebrow. "Don't want much, do you?"

Cynical and sarcastic.

"At least I want something," she retorted with a snort.

Hiei's eyes hardened. "I want something. I want Yukina to have security and happiness and I want honest strength. No cheap route like Toguro took."

Botan blinked. "That's it?" she asked innocently, tilting her head. "That's all you want in life? I mean, they're very good things to want, but...nothing else? Friends? Happiness?"

"That's all," he replied evenly, his face tightening in annoyance.

Liar, she thought, but didn't say anything. She decided to not push her luck and try to remain on semi-good terms with him. She touched his hand and gave him a soft smile. "Okay." Not noticing the way he tensed beneath her touch, she curled up in the grass, ensuring he was in reaching distance.

oOo

Botan awoke to someone continually shaking her shoulder. She groggily opened one eye, peering around for the culprit. "Wha- whatizzit?"

"Lazy onna, get up."

She opened both of her eyes, meeting two agitated crimson ones. With a small yawn, she sat up, stretching lazily. "Why? What's going on?"

Hiei smirked. "We're going to do something "fun"."

Botan's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "Really?" Her face turned suspicious. "What kind of fun? I don't particularly find enjoyment in getting killed."

"Fun for you," he said curtly. "But we can just stay here. I'll train and you can....sit."

He was purposely manipulating her and she knew it. Dammit. "Okay - if you tell me where we're going," she said carefully.

His face didn't change as he answered, "The same place we were at yesterday."

Civilization. That was something in itself, even if it was with demons. She smiled. "Sounds good." In a flash, she summoned her oar, hopping on. "Climb on. No need to take an hour walking there!"

Hiei's lip curled downward in a disgusted look. "I'll pass."

Botan gave him a weird look. "What is it with you and my oar?"

Hiei straightened defensively. "I just don't like riding on it."

"Why not?" she asked with a small laugh. "Just get on - it's faster."

Hiei's jaw set determinedly. "You paddle boats with it, you don't ride on it. And I can run just as fast."

"Okay," she chuckled. She flew off into the trees, Hiei sprinting behind her. She may be clumsy on her feet, but she was skilled with an oar. Hundreds of years of flying billions of souls around does that to you. As she wove through branches, she saw Hiei pull ahead of her with ease, a cocky smirk passing over his features.

She frowned, pulling lower, away from the branches. If he thinks my oar can't keep up with him, he's sadly mistaken. As she pushed the wooden vehicle a little faster, she passed Hiei's flitting form, pulling a good length ahead.

Hiei's eyebrow quirked in bewilderment. Had she looked....triumphant when she passed him. With that thought alone, his competitive strive kicked in and he increased his pace.

In minutes, their little pass and be-passed game had turned into a full-blown, win or die, race. Botan's eyes stung from the speed the wind was whipping at her face. She gripped her oar harder, willing it to go just a little faster, ignoring the branches and weeds that tore at her arm's skin.

Hiei ignored the slight pain in his side and how his face was slowly going moist with sweat. The hell if that rowing implement would beat him. Suddenly, the trees cleared, revealing a stone wall a mere twenty feet away - the city boundary wall. Botan shrieked in surprise and tried to yank her oar upward, out of harms way, but at the speed she was going, she hardly had time to think. She's still going to hit it, he thought. Without a second thought, he launched off a branch towards her. He collided into her, momentarily winding both, knocking them just enough off course that they narrowly missed the wall, tumbling into an ungraceful heap on the ground.

Botan finally dared to open her eyes, wincing as she felt a few bruises forming on her body. But it was better than being splattered against that wall. She felt Hiei's arms around her back and waist and she glanced apprehensively at his face, which was slightly obscured with pain and damp with sweat, his chest rising and falling with small pants. She brought a hand to his face and his eyes sharpened, now focusing on her. "You're so warm," she whispered, the only thing she could think of to say.

He gazed at her for a moment, his breathing slowing to it's normal rate. Finally, he gave a small shrug, smirking at her. "I am a fire demon."

Slightly surprised at his not-so-callous answer, she didn't reply. She quickly noticed that her hand was still resting on his cheek however. He noticed as well and his face began to feel even warmer than it had. With a slight jerk, she pulled her hand away and tried to untangle herself from his arms. He grunted and pulled his hands out from under her and rolled away, remaining on his back.

She sat up and gazed thoughtfully at him. "Are you alright?"

He shifted his eyes to look at her. "I won."

"You didn't win!" she laughed, throwing a stick at him. "It was a tie!"

"I would have won if I didn't have to save you."

"Which you didn't."

Hiei looked at her in slight surprise. "What?"

"It's still a tie. You had the choice to let me die."

He opened his mouth, but shut it again, obviously a little perturbed at being outwitted. "Koenma would have had me thrown in prison," he finally said - proud he had thought of it.

"So it was a wise choice. But still a choice," Botan countered calmly without hesitation.

Hiei grit his teeth and turned on his heel, stalking to the gate of the stone wall, muttering something that sounded distinctly like, "Baka onna..."

Botan smiled in satisfaction and followed after him, mentally reminding herself to write down that he didn't particularly like it when arguments didn't go in his favor.

After she caught up with him, they walked through the gates and into the busy streets. She didn't bother asking him where they were going because he gripped her forearm and drug her through the streets, pulling her in whichever direction he pleased. Finally, they entered a wooden building Botan easily recognized as a tavern. As soon as Hiei pulled her through the doors, she was greeted with the smell of liquor and fire and the sound of laughter and drunken demons.

He led her to a corner table and sat down, motioning her towards the empty seat. She roughly took her seat and glared at the seemingly calm fire demon. "A bar!?" she hissed venomously.

His lip curled pleasantly as if he were enjoying her distress. "That's what they call it."

"I've never been drunk before."

"I don't intend to get you drunk."

"I don't want to deal with a drunk fire demon either."

"I rarely over consume alcohol as well."

"Good," she said curtly, running out of ideas to leave. "Then why are we here?"

Hiei didn't answer, but leaned back in his seat, his ruby eyes wandering around the bar. Suddenly, he smirked and tilted forward again, resting his elbows on the table. He pointed a hand towards the door. "Right there. That's your new mate."

Botan whipped around, looking for who he was pointing to. There was a demon with raven black hair, tied neatly in a ponytail. He had on a decent, leather outfit and his face was clean and handsomely sculpted, but she still frowned with distaste. "He has purple skin and two horns."

Hiei sighed in fake defeat. "Alright, if you're going to be picky about it..."

Botan turned back to him and narrowed her eyes. "So we're here to find me a mate, is that it?"

"Something along those lines."

"Really FUN."

"I thought so."

"Shut up." To prove her animosity, she turned to take a look around the bar as well. Spotting an overly robust woman in a leopard shirt with way too much cleavage, she pointed her hand. "How about cheetah woman? She looks fiery. Just right for a fire demon I'd say..."

Hiei turned to look and cringed when he saw her choice. With a short grunt, he turned back and gave her an icy glare.

Suddenly a waitress walked over and set two drinks on their table. "Here ya go. Two drinks for th' happy couple. Nobody comes in this bar withow' a drink. This ones on the house."

Hiei gave the two frothy drinks a distasteful look before handing the waitress a small handful of gold coins. "Here. I'll pay for it anyway."

The waitress's eyes widened. "Let me get you your c-change..."

He waved her off. "Keep it."

As she left, Botan gave him a meaningful look. "That was nice."

Hiei sipped his drink absently before answering. "Not nice. I don't except charity from anyone."

Botan shrugged. "Okay, whatever you say. Now then..." She continued to look around the room. She spotted what she guessed was a high-class demon, judging from his human attributes. Definitely handsome - no doubt strong... "How about him, for me?" She nodded towards the blonde-haired demon.

As soon as Hiei spotted him, his eyes darkened. "No," he stated simply.

Botan rose an eyebrow. "Why not?"

"Because he'd only use you for your body and then drop you on some dime-store servant of his in case he wanted you later."

Her eyes widened in avocation. "How can you tell?" She gave him a suspicious look. "Or are you just saying that because he's not half bad in the looks department?"

Hiei gave her a flat look. "Why would I care if he was?"

"Because then you'd have competition." The words spilled from her mouth before she could stop them.

Hiei's eyes widened in confused surprise, not saying a word.

"I didn't mean it like that," she stuttered, blushing hotly. "The alcohol is getting to me..."

Hiei's eyes flit down to her drink, then back to her face. "You haven't touched your drink."

She blushed even more. "Sure I have." She grabbed the cup firmly to prove her point, swallowing a large mouthful. The spiced, rancid drink burned her throat like a thousand daggers working in slow circles against the tender appendage. And it had the most bile taste! She felt her stomach and throat contracting with pain, her brain starting to go dizzy.

Hiei gave her a weird look as she started coughing to rid herself of the disgusting drink. The tables around them began to stare at her, first in confusion and then mockingly. It was obvious she couldn't handle her liquor. Using his ungodly speed, Hiei whisked her drink away, quickly dumping it of it's contents and placing it back on the table. "She downed it in one go," he clarified loudly to the small audience that had begun to gather. If that didn't steer their attention away, his murderous glare did.

After a few more moments, Botan got her coughing fit under control and she looked at Hiei gratefully. "Thanks..."

He merely gazed at her and she could see his red eyes dancing with amusement, his lips twitching slightly. He thinks this is funny?!

"This isn't funny!" she snapped bitterly.

He didn't know how she read him so easily, but he decided he would figure that out later. Taking a large swallow of his own drink, he smirked at her. "Of course not."

She gaped at him in surprise as he set his drink down. "That is the most VILE tasting drink my taste buds have ever had the displeasure of exploring!"

"Demon's beer," he said, unable to stop his mouth from curving into a small smile. "It makes ningen liquor taste like water."

"You think it's amusing that I couldn't "take" it then?"

Hiei's head turned slightly to the left in fake thought. "Well I did save your ass from a hell-load of embarrassment from others who thought you couldn't take it."

Botan gave him a flat look. She grabbed the waitress's arm as she passed by the table again. She whispered something in her ear, ignoring the suspicious look she was getting from Hiei.

As soon as the waitress left, Hiei gave Botan a deadly glare. "What was that about?"

She gave him a blank look. "What was what about?"

Hiei's eyes narrowed, but he dropped the subject, instead choosing to search the room for the ugliest demon he could pin Botan with.

He had just spotted one that look amazingly like a ningen giraffe, when suddenly, a very large woman, with scaly blue skin and two devil-like tails approached their table. She had beady eyes and a huge gap between her teeth, her orange hair short, thin and matted. Botan had a stifle a laugh as Hiei had to look up a good ways just to see her face.

"Hey," the woman screeched in a heavily accented voice. "I be Sheeta. You be the fire apparition that boughts Sheeta drink?"

Botan wished she had a camera to capture the look on Hiei's face. His face paled considerably, his eyes widening in horror. His already small body seemed to shrink next to the large demoness's and he intentionally leaned as far away as possible without leaving his seat. "Um..." he stuttered helplessly.

"You sure is a cute one," Sheeta announced loudly, patting his head with her large hand. "And you have coolest hair."

Hiei looked as if he could've died. He opened his mouth to protest, but the large woman took both of her hands and lifted him clean out of his chair. She brought him close to her face, pressing her nose against his. Hiei's pupils went the size of dots, his face etched in one of pure disgust and terror. "You smells good too."

Botan couldn't hold it anymore and she let out a loud laugh, burying her head in her arms to smolder the sound. She looked up and saw Sheeta lean back, only to pucker her lips forward, the way a child would await a kiss. Hiei squirmed violently, but her grip didn't waver. Seeing as that wasn't working, his hand formed a small cup - no doubt about to light on fire.

Botan stood, deciding that she would put Hiei out of his misery, and ensure that Sheeta didn't get barbequed. "Excuse me!" she said loudly, just as Hiei's hand lit on fire and Sheeta's lips were inches away.

Sheeta stopped and peered down at Botan. "What is it tiny blue girl?"

Botan deliberately flipped her hair and fluttered her lashes seductively. "I believe you have my mate in your clutches."

Sheeta looked confused. "But fire apparition buys Sheeta drink. Is gesture of affection!"

"That's true," Botan replied sweetly. "But it was THAT fire demon that bought you a drink, not MY fire demon." She pointed with her hand at some random demon in the back, who instantly bolted from the room.

Sheeta wrinkled her nose as the door slammed closed. "But Sheeta likes this fire apparition betters."

Botan put on her best pouty face. "But who will I have? I LOVE this fire demon Sheeta-chan. He is my one and only."

Hiei's face turned beet red. Whether from embarrassment or because Sheeta suddenly squeezed particularly hard, it was hard to say.

"Well if blue girl loves him," Sheeta mumbled reluctantly, finally dropping Hiei before rushing out the door to chase after the demon that had run out. "Come backs me love!"

Botan rushed to Hiei's side, grabbing his arm to help him up. Hiei gave her a glare fit to kill. "I hate you," he grumbled, but his words didn't have the killing edge they usually contained, instead seemingly laced with a careful softness.

Botan decided to think about that later and let out a small giggle. "I know you do." Together they walked out of the tavern, not noticing the, "Aaaw!"s and the "Oh, she really did get to keep her love!"s.

"Let's go back," Hiei muttered, shoving his hands in his pockets. Botan followed wordlessly behind him, suddenly noticing the warm, little happy feeling that had blossomed in the pit of her stomach. She pondered over it for a moment, before realizing - she had talked with Hiei today, laughed with him, played friendly competition games with him -like....friends would. With a start she realized how comfortable he had become since the night of the ball. And how comfortable she had become.

Wrapped up in her own thoughts, she accidentally walked into Hiei, who had abruptly stopped. "What's wrong?" she asked, orienting herself again.

The answer to her question became apparent as she craned her neck to see in front of him. A bedraggled demon, nothing but bones, skin and putrid wounds, was clutching frantically at Hiei's cloak. "Please sir, I beg of you to have mercy - I just need help getting out of the city, I am crippled you see." He let out a piteous yelp as someone kicked him when they walked by. "Excuse me," he apologized to the demon that had trampled on him. "I didn't mean to be in your way."

"Shut up and go to the hell hole you came from!" the demon spat, moving forward in the crowd.

"Of course," the crippled demon muttered, bowing his head as tears formed in his eyes.

Botan covered her mouth in sympathy. "I'm sorry.." she whispered, not really knowing what she was sorry for.

"Get on my back," Hiei said monotonously, glancing briefly back at Botan.

"Me?" she asked in surprise.

"If you wouldn't mind exhibiting some haste," he confirmed through grit teeth.

Not bothering to question him, she leapt onto his back, tightly holding his neck for balance. Before she could even ponder his motives, Hiei bent down and scooped the old demon into his arms, bounding upwards to a building rooftop. Botan, as well as the old demon, let out a shriek of surprise as he swiftly sailed over the rooftops with staggering speed.

In an instant that felt like a vagile flight, they were outside the city grounds, at the breech of the forest. Botan climbed shakily off his back while Hiei set the old demon carefully on the ground.

The demon stuttered for words, clearly shaken and surprised. It didn't waver Hiei though. He hardly paused as he took out a small bag full of coins and handed it to the demon. "Here, take this," he said bluntly. "And this. Go to another city - show this to anyone you please, probably an inn owner." He took out a piece of paper and scribbled something on it, handing it to the old demon. Before the bedraggled demon could take it though, Botan grabbed it, quickly reading what it said.

Assist this demon in finding a suitable shelter that he can live out the rest of his life in peace and safety. If you hurt this demon, in any way, you will have to face the wrath of his overseer.

The Single Wielder of the Darkness Flame

Botan nodded in approval. That would threaten anyone, especially since Hiei had burned a flame tattoo in the corner of the paper. Grabbing the pen she used to write down Hiei's soulmate progress, she signed her own name - and then added something else just for effect.

She handed it back to Hiei, who in turn raised a questioning eyebrow, glancing over it to see what she had written. Overseer was now, overseers, and the signature looked like this.

The Single Wielder of the Darkness Flame

The Deity of Death

Who are also good friends with Youko Kurama, Urameshi the Spirit Detective, Prince Koenma of the Underworld, and the legendary Genkai - all of which will not hesitate to explemplify their wrath on you.

Hiei shook his head, handing the paper to the old demon. The demon, after reading the paper, stared up at Hiei with wide eyes. "Does this paper speak truth?"

Hiei only nodded in reply. The demon's eyes filled with tears. "Thank you kind sir! I will not forget the kindness you have shown me!" With a deep bow, he began to slowly hobble into the trees. Botan watched him until the shadows and branches blocked him from view. She turned to Hiei, unable to resist giving him a huge grin. "I can't believe you did that," she said happily. "That was more than any other demon here would've done." She also wanted to ask why he did it, since while it was the right thing, it wasn't really characteristic of Hiei.

He turned away, looking a little embarrassed at being caught in the act of doing something decent. "Honor code," he muttered, answering Botan's unasked question.

"Ooooh," she whispered slowly. Kurama had told her that Hiei had a very complicated honor code.

They stood in tensed silence for a minute, before Botan finally spoke. "So, you're either going to have to carry me back to camp or we're walking." She gave the stone wall a weary glance. "My oar sort of broke back there. Shattered, actually."

Hiei gave her a 'you-make-my-life-hell' look.

"Or," Botan added, seeing his disagreeable look. "There is a third option."

She had caught his attention enough to earn her a short, "Hn."

"We could stay at a hotel."

Hiei snorted. "You'd have more decency sleeping in a tree than a Makai Inn."

"Even the really nice ones? That lords and S-class demons use?"

Hiei raised an eyebrow at her perceptiveness. "I'm running a little short on money," he said placidly.

"Oh I know," Botan said airily. "That note gave me an idea."

He shook his head. "It would be easier to just go back to camp. We'll walk."

Botan's face fell. "But....but..."

"But....but...button your trap," he retorted, mimicking her pouty voice, turning to start into the woods.

Botan ignored his annoyed tone. "Showers! A real bed! Sheets! A ROOF?!"

Hiei turned again, letting out an impatient sigh. "Are you coming, or I am going alone?"

"Don't you want a shower?" Botan pressed, momentarily catching his attention. "I mean, you can't really take a nice, hot, long anything with me around. And you were just in a bar, all those low class demons...their scent is all over you." That last part was a lie. Like hell if she could smell that good, but she had held his interest. "Doesn't that sound appealing?"

He narrowed his eyes for a moment before turning his head away. "No."

"Liar."

He whipped his head back. "What?"

"You're lying."

"No I'm not."

"Yes you are." She walked up to him and placed a finger on his jaw. "Whenever you're trying to hide an emotion or cover anxiousness or your temper, your jaw tightens just so, and your lips curve downward just a little bit."

Hiei retaliated, moving his face out of the reach of her fingers. He stared at her with a mixture of shock, curiosity and anger. "Fine, we'll stay at a hotel," he said, keeping his voice steady. "On one condition."

Botan brow rose curiously. "Which is?"

"Stop doing that."

"What?" she asked, honestly confused.

"Stop....I don't know - whatever you're doing!" he said in exasperation, not knowing how to put into words that he was becoming increasingly uncomfortable with her reading his emotions, with how he was starting to feel comfortable and relaxed with her, with her managing to spark his temper and then cool it off with no less than ten words, but most of all...for doing what she said she would - making him laugh. But he couldn't help it! She was just too damn - oh hell. He had just been on the verge of thinking the word, cute. What in the nine hells was wrong with him?! That shower might be just what he needed, actually.

"Um, well..." she said slowly. "I don't really know how to d-"

"Alright fine, you win. Let's go," he rushed quickly, heading back towards the gate.

"Eh...alrighty then..."

oOo

"Yes, so we would like a room for inspection."

"This is odd....the Spiritworld committee has never done an inspection here before..."

"Yes well," Botan began with a heavy sigh. "After an unfortunate incident with a few other hotels, we're taking new precautions. Now then, me and my partner over there," she waved a hand towards Hiei, who was leaning back stiffly against the wall, "need a room."

"Alright," the receptionist said, leafing through her files. "We only have one room that will accommodate you two adequately. But don't worry, it's one of the finest in the hotel. It's a good thing too....we have no other rooms available in the hotel except for the hon-"

"Hiei! Come on! We have a room!"

The receptionist huffed at being cut off, but didn't say anything, promptly handing Botan the key. "Enjoy your stay, I hope we pass inspection."

Botan smiled, taking the key in her hand. "Thank you - so far you have an A!" Grabbing Hiei's arm, she tugged him away from the desk, searching for their room number. "!62...162....aha - right here!"

She pushed open the door, and together they walked in. Hiei froze, catching Botan's arm. "Why is there only one bed?"

She glanced around the room - sure enough, only one bed. "Oh dear..." she murmured. "I think she thought we were...newlyweds."

"What?!" Hiei snapped incredulously.

Botan winced. "I'm sorry! But it's not like we can do anything now, she already said there were no other rooms to stay in..."

He groaned loudly.

"You can just stay in a tree." Botan flopped down happily on the bed. "Ah... god bless the man who invented mattresses." She smiled at him before picking up a little leaflet that had been laid on the silk sheets. "Hmm... free dining in the dining room for first night honeymooners - oh - free mints!"

She grabbed one of the mints that had been laid out on the pillows and sighed happily as she popped it in her mouth. "It's been too long... I love chocolate..."

"I don't believe you..." Hiei shook his head with a frown.

Botan snuck his mint while his back was turned. "Why not? I got us a free room didn't I?"

Hiei spied the mint in her hand. "Is that my mint?"

She looked down at the mint in her hand and quickly swallowed the one she had been chewing. "No..."

"How many have you had?" he frowned.

Botan decided not to answer and went to pop her second mint into her mouth.

"Oh no you don't-"

He lunged at her and Botan shrieked and fell back to avoid him. He wrapped a hand around her waist to hold her down, unintentionally tickling her, half grappling for the mint in her hand. "No!" Botan laughed and maneuvered her hand so he wouldn't get it.

"That's not fair! You've had yours already!"

"So?" Botan giggled as his fingers poked at her sides - her most ticklish spot so far. "S-stop it! You're n-not allowed..." she broke off in laughter before managing to catch her breath. "Not allowed to touch a member of Spiritworld staff!"

"So?" Hiei grinned, echoing her earlier response.

"You're not getting it!" Botan quickly licked the mint and held it out. "You want it? Take it!"

"Fine." He grabbed the mint and stuffed it in his mouth. Botan stared at him.

Just then the receptionist entered. "Here's the menu for tonight's... oh!" She froze as she saw Hiei positioned on top of Botan, halfway through chewing a mint. "I-I didn't think you'd be so fast - goodbye!"

She scurried out again, bright red. The door slammed shut before the menu hit the floor.

Hiei and Botan stared at the door before leaping away from each other. Botan ran a hand through her hair, slightly flushed. "That's disgusting! I can't believe you ate that."

"Why not?" He swallowed the mint.

"Germs, for one," she reprimanded while wrinkling her nose.

He rolled his eyes. "Come on. I'm actually hungry for once....what did you say? First night honeymooners?"

oOo

Botan happily slurped the last of her soup, glad for the chance to get her stomach completely filled with good food. "Mm..."

Hiei stifled another yawn. "You done, yet? I want to take that shower."

"Yep, I'm done."

He started to get up.

"Wait!" she whispered and he sat back down with a frown.

"What?"

"The staff are watching us - they think we're a real couple of newlyweds," Botan said under her breath. "No - don't look!"

"Well you did happily take the room, so it IS understandable."

"Kiss me."

He stared at her like she'd grown another head.

"Oh - don't look at me like that! We're newlyweds remember?"

"Did you hit your head or something and forget REALITY?" he hissed.

"They're expecting us to be all lovey-dovey!" Botan reasoned. "We have to prove that we really are newlyweds otherwise they might suspect something and kick us out."

"But how can we prove it if we're NOT married?" he growled.

"By kissing me." She smiled like he was being unreasonable. "Oh come on, you're acting like I'm asking you to chop off your own hand."

"Same effect," he growled. "I'm just irrational that way when girls ask me to kiss them out of the blue."

"Is this because you've never kissed anyone before?" she asked slyly.

"I HAVE kissed people before," he snapped, shifting uncomfortably in his seat.

"Then prove it to me." She smirked. "Or are you too chicken?"

"I better get to sleep on the bed for this."

"You'll do it?"

"Hn." He leaned over and took her cheek in his hand before lightly pecking her on the lips.

Botan blushed even as he pulled away. Would she have a story for Keiko and Shizuru! It was pretty rare to be kissed by Hiei Jaganshi. And the kiss was surprisingly gentle... Wait, why was she thinking about it so much?!

"Blargh..." Hiei pulled a face, denying the light pink that tinted his cheeks. "And you were worried about germs before..."

Botan smiled despite his sour expression. "So you get the bed. First one to the room gets the shower first."

"Huh?" he looked up to see Botan dashing away. "Wait! I already claimed it!"

The two raced out the dining room and the staff cooed. "Aw... young love..." a waitress commented.

"Can't wait to get into bed."

oOo

"Gah. The bed AND the shower. This sucks." Botan fiddled with her notebook. She had decided to write down the entire 'helpless demon' incident. Underlining words like, honor and chivalry. What is taking him so long?

She shoved her notebook into the night stand drawer and got off the bed. She started off towards the bathroom with the full intention of pounding on the door and demanding that he get out. She whirled around the corner and almost collided with the koorime of her thoughts. He had obviously just left the shower because he was only in a towel and he almost dropped it when he bumped into Botan. Clutching at the white material, he shot her a dirty look. "Don't do that!"

"S-Sorry..." she stuttered, blushing to her ears. Her eyes felt trained to his annoyed face, the water dripping off of his midnight-shot hair, allowing soft drops to land on his chest. His very well-defined, muscular, tan chest...Whoa Botan, you're getting ahead of yourself here!

Hiei gave her an odd look, pushing her shoulder with his hand. "Move onna."

She nodded, stepping out of his way. She tried very hard to ignore when his wet arm brushed across her hand that was fiddling with the bottom of her hair, but even though it was now wet, it felt as if he had burned her.

She sighed. Hiei was very clever, but luckily, due to his lack of association with others, he couldn't recognize when someone was checking him out. Which she wasn't! Intentionally... Dammit. I just need that shower...

Sherkoni - You all better appreciate! This is the longest freaking chapter I've ever written for any of my stories! (faints)

Hiei - Baka. It's only 14 pages.

Botan - A little more.

Sherkoni - That's a lot!

Hiei - Whimp.

Sherkoni - (-.-);; Okay, so I guess not. (cough) Please review - it inspires me to write long chapters such as this. n.n;;