FIK: Hey, I'm back and rolling with the third installment of: Sacrifice!! (Insert dramatic music)
Hiei: Baka...
FIK: You're just jealous so shut it.
Hiei: (blinks) of what?
FIK: That I have so many reviews, and that they are about this story, the one where I pair you and-
Hiei: (slaps hand over my mouth) Not another word or... (Pulls sword out suggestively)
FIK: (NOD NOD!!) Oh, thanks bunches for the reviews all, they were wonderful!! Soo much better than the ones I got for my other stories... (Glare to bad reviewers) One more thing: there will be OOC ness in this ficcy unfortunately, but bear with me on this please. I'll try to keep some of their characterness, k?
Disclaimer: Do I really have to?
Chapter Three
"How is she Hiei?" Kurama asked quietly, sitting on a chair in Botan's apartment. He watched as the koorime settled himself on the windowsill, his face blank though his demeanor was troubled.
"Sleeping. She woke yesterday, but that was all."
"Hmm... Did you speak to her?"
Hiei shifted awkwardly, catching Kurama's composed gaze for a moment before breaking away again. Kurama sighed, crossing his arms across his chest.
"You're going to have to tell her sometime, you know?"
Hiei scowled from his seat, "I know fox; I'm not hiding."
"I didn't say you were. Do you know what you're going to say? Or how?"
Hiei, growling slightly, stood from the sill, walking to the other seat and sitting.
"Lie, and don't start with your reasoning talk, Kurama, I'm not in the mood."
Kurama nodded simply, noticing the slight uneasy look on his face. What was troubling the fire demon so much lately? Besides a few obvious facts, Kurama couldn't help but wonder what had happened in the short time Botan had been awake.
Botan trembled, shivering in the dim interior of her bedroom as she stumbled to her closet. Grabbing a dark purple robe, she slipped it on, sighing as she started to warm up when the soft fabric was secured in place. She made her way out of her room, crossing the somewhat lit hallway and into the bathroom to take care of business. Finishing, she drew a brush through her tangled locks, allowing them to remain down despite that it would only take a few more moments to put it up into her normal ponytail. Her face seemed pale for some reason and her entire body was shaking to a small degree.
Silently, she glided down the hallway towards the kitchen, pausing at the doorway to the living room. Voices caught her attention immediately, halting her in her excursion out of her bed. Pressing her ear to the door, she listened intently, wondering who in the world was in her apartment.
"I don't really care if she can't accept it; it's her own fault this happened, baka."
"I know that perfectly well. All I'm suggesting is that you at least try to make this transformation easier for her. Botan-san does not take well to what she doesn't know; she is much calmer when she understands straightforward what the situation is."
A pregnant pause followed the man's short statement, allowing Botan a moment to ponder what the pair was talking about. She knew now that the intruders were only Hiei and Kurama, but what bothered her was the subject they were speaking of. Hiei's low, fierce voice cut into her thoughts,
"And how, do you propose, I could accomplish that nonsense?"
"For one thing, tell her the truth-"
"No."
"What do you mean no? You can't let her go on thinking something that is not true."
"And why not? I see no problem with letting her believe that the idiots in Reikai let something happen to her."
"It's not that Hiei; in fact, it's not the change you will both endure that is bothering me. It's the connection you will share and how it will have an effect on you and Botan."
"Nani? What connection fox? We have none."
"That, Hiei, is where you are wrong."
Two pairs of eyes, one politely curious and concerned, and the other infuriated and taken aback, stared when the door opened unexpectedly, revealing a confused, ruffled, ferry girl. Both men stood with her sudden appearance, halting when she stuck her hand out in a stopping position. Her long hair was down for once, framing her pale face in water tinted curves. Amethyst pools drowned them both with their uncertainty, holding them from speaking by the spark of anger held there also.
"I'm usually very trusting of you Kurama, but I'm wondering now whether I should put so much faith in you after hearing all of that." Botan murmured lowly.
She frowned when he made to speak, silencing him, feeling immediately guilty by the bit of wounding his emerald eyes took on with her accusation. Turning her glower onto the silent koorime she forced herself to hold his stare, his fiery gems daring her to say something to him.
"And you... I want the truth from you." Botan said, clenching her hands together. "I-I remember what happened, but I didn't realize what I had done. I want to know what... what is happening to me?"
Hiei and Kurama exchanged glances with one another, an unspoken question being answered with the redhead's nod. Kurama sat back down, rubbing at an ache forming in his temple. 'This will not be easy. I hope Hiei doesn't do something dense.'
"Botan?"
Botan looked at him, expectation gleaming in her eyes. She took a seat that faced both of the detectives, hugging her arms to herself as if to ward off anything bad or unwanted.
"Hai, Kurama?"
"You said you recalled what had happened yesterday. Tell me, do you remember what the Jagan, uh... said to you?"
"Hmm... Yes, I do, but it's unclear. It said I needed to sacrifice something to... well... stop the Flame." She answered, biting her lip. Hiei gave a fleeting look at the pale deity, turning away when her eyes rose to his questioningly. Kurama noticed this, but opted to continue instead of pondering this.
"Correct. Did it say anything else? Something about what was needed to be relinquished or anything of the sort?"
Botan nodded, recollecting a certain phrase the Jagan had said to her before blacking out.
"It... it said that it would save H-Hiei, but it 'would come at a dear price'. What did it mean, Kurama?!" Botan cried desperately. "Why am I still alive?!?" Hiei stood, but Kurama frowned at him warningly. Coming to her side, he watched as she clasped her hands to her face, tears threatening to spill from the corner of her eyes.
"Botan... you are alive because the Jagan choose to let you live. Instead of sacrificing your life, he bonded you to his Master's soul, allowing his pain and death wish to fade away with the healing qualities of your spirit. Please, you must understand that you are going to face changes physically... and mentally. What you did was honorable and altruistic beyond comparison, but something had to be taken despite that your sacrifice was whole and true."
Shivering, Botan looked intently at Kurama, his words sinking into her mind where she began sorting it out. It... made sense. True, nothing good could happen without some sort of forfeiting in exchange. She chanced a glance at the silent koorime, but his eyes were fastened directly on Kurama.
"Kurama... what did I sacrifice?"
Silence followed her simple inquiry, neither of the two detectives quite sure how to answer her without sending her into hysterics. Her lifelong dream, her hopes for the future... were gone; and they were gone because she decided to take the plunge in a way she did everyday in her life. She'd been selfless, thinking only for the ones she cared for, and in return... her desire to become human would never become reality.
"Botan... it was..." Kurama started quietly.
"What, Kurama?" Botan whispered, fear evident in her tone.
"It, the Jagan, it took... your humanity."
Botan's eyes widened incredulously, complete and utter skepticism reflecting in her lilac hued orbs.
"No... No, it-it can't be..." She spoke softly, raising her hands to her face, examining them for any proof that this was true. They shook, clenching into fists.
"No!! That's not true!!! It can't be!?! Please, tell me it's not right!!" She shrieked, leaping to her feet, clawing at her arms. Kurama grabbed her torn wrists, halting the damage she was inflicting upon herself. Botan flung against him, recklessly trying to get out of his hold. A well placed thrust to the shin had him releasing her; in an instant Botan was out the door flying out into the turbulent skies above.
"Go after her!!" Kurama yelled at the staggered koorime. Hiei nodded, flitting into nothing as he took off after the distressed ferry girl.
Botan flew at an absurd pace, urging her oar to go faster as it had done the other day. Inside she felt that everything would be okay if she escaped, to get as much distance between her and reality as possible. Wind shrieked past her, nipping her face with its frigid grips, burning her skin; it was so freezing. Rain ate at her, soaking through her robe and night outfit, chilling her to the bone with a dreadful coldness. Her hands became numb, along with her feet and nose as she soared, darting around trees that grabbed at her, tearing and cutting incessantly. Soon, darkness too started to work against her, the setting sun telling her to slow and stop....
..... Behind her, a figure darted in and out of view, veiled in a cloak of the night sky and as swift as lightning itself. Branch to branch, it steadily gained ground on the ferry girl, the distance between them becoming smaller every moment. He could sense her anguish, feel her agony and chill even from where he was. Her scent of lilacs and spring winds were thick with the sick scent of betrayal and a diminutive indication of regret, but the aroma of thunder was heavy among the turmoil, telling him that her powers were stirring.
Just as forest began to become too thick with trees to fly safely at her speed, Botan sensed something behind her, coming at an inconceivable rate. Crying out, she sobbed as she hurtled onwards, dodging hazardously as trees blurred her view. Seconds later, the aura disappeared. Startled, Botan stopped suddenly, forgetting her intentions as she wondered were the thing had gone.
Without warning, something clutched her around the waist, dragging her off the oar and plunging towards the ground. Screaming, Botan fought at her captor, swiping and biting at the hands that held her close to their warm body.
They landed moments later, the person whirling her around to face him. Closing her eyes, Botan lashed out, landing a punch square on a cheekbone, twisting in his grasps. He growled, smacking away another feeble attempt to strike him. Botan stumbled, seeming to careen backwards. When the person made to steady her, she bit his hand, jumping outwards.
Now free of his holds, Botan sprinted away from him, darting into the shelter of the forest, dashing aimlessly into the thickening darkness. She could hear him coming, branches swiping at her face, weeds and grasses crackling with each step she took. In a flash, the person lunged at her, grappling her to the ground harshly. Botan screamed again, thrashing beneath his body, tears pouring down her face as it became evident that she could not escape.
"Onna!! Onna, stop it, I'm not going to hurt you!!" A voice hissed heatedly.
Botan froze, her eyes flying open in shock. Hiei glared from atop of her, his hands holding hers above her head.
"H-Hiei!?!" She sputtered breathlessly.
"Yes! Now stop struggling will you!?"
Botan stopped squirming, his weight lessening on her legs instantly. Hiei, a bruise forming on one side of his face, scowled down at her.
"What do you think you are doing!!? Are you trying to destroy yourself!!?" He said hotly.
Botan glowered at him, her eyes heating up with fury.
"You should talk!! You were trying to die yesterday, so why should you care if I do today!?! I'm tired of someone always babying me and thinking that I can't handle any pressure. I'm sick of being the weak one, the one who has to be taken care of..." She trailed off, breathing heavily.
Above the still pair, clouds of navy thunder rumbled nearby, small droplets of heaven's tears beginning their plunge downwards. Hiei took little note of this, having been caught suddenly in a trance by the tormented deity underneath him. Catching her breath, Botan took a moment and closed her eyes, letting the rain cool her forehead. Slowly, she opened them again, the sentiments flitting in her amethyst orbs too complicated for Hiei to understand.
"And I'm sick.... of you."
Hiei stared at her, feeling absolutely surprised for the first time in centuries. Of all things, he had never expected that to come from the bubbly creature currently trapped beneath him. His hold tightened on her wrists, her flinch silently telling him of her pain. He didn't notice that he'd done this, of course, since his mind still reeling from her declaration. Botan, however, was getting more and more livid the longer his silence endured. 'The nerve of him, just staring at me like I'm insane or something. He has plenty of enemies who hate him, so why is he looking at me as if I am the first to tell him that he sickens me?'
"You don't seem to be getting what I said, Hiei," Botan said, bringing his attention back to her. Sensing his confusion, all the more infuriating to her, she continued:
"Yes, I'm sick of you. You, the mighty Hiei, the Forbidden Child, Master of The Darkness Flame. I'm tired of you and your careless mind-set. After all this time, I've yet to have gotten a 'thank you' out of you. No, not you, you're too powerful and too much of a cold-hearted demon to give a damn about others and their feelings. Well, I have one thing to say about your heartless attitude: I hate it!!"
Botan breathed heavily, her chest heaving. Inside she felt astonished at herself; she'd never taken out her problems on another person before. Let alone someone she worked with and had saved her countless times when he could have let her die. She glimpsed up at him, only to find his crimson eyes scouring her face, their intensity forcing her to remain staring at him. His midnight hair rippled in the breeze, damp with rain as was his cloak and bandaged arm.
"H-Hiei, gomen nasai. Please, I-I didn't mean to... you aren't..." She murmured, tears forming in her eyes. He continued to stare, his eyes flickering in flashes of lightning. Botan bit back a sob, unaware that her tears were now running down her face.
She gasped when a calloused hand touched her cheek softly, wiping away a stray tear with a thumb. Her wrists were released, allowing her to sit up partly, her eyes leveling with Hiei's. He shifted off her legs, kneeling next to her.
"I can feel your pain, onna, so I was not surprised by your outburst. What I cannot understand is... why? You knew full well of the consequences possible."
Botan nodded at his words, though her face was one of puzzlement.
"I thought that it was the right thing to do. You had saved me so many times before; it just felt like someone needed to save you for once. You're my friend Hiei, and you always will be."
Hiei shook his head in disbelief, suddenly aware that something was being clenched inside him, an unfamiliar emotion bubbling in his gut. It was only when a pair of soft arms wrapped around his waist that he looked at her, watching as she laid her head against his chest hesitantly. Unsure of what to think, he stroked her hair gently as before, listening as her breath slowed in the beginning of sleep.
"You really are a baka, Hiei. I just wish that you'll consider me a friend one day too. Please, tell Kurama I'm sorry, he doesn't need to feel guilty for what happened."
Hiei lifted her up into his arms, cradling the sleeping girl firmly against him. Walking in the direction of her apartment, he murmured:
"Hai, I will."
Mentally he added, 'Kami-sama, what have you done, onna?'
Little did he know, a pair of cinnamon eyes had watched the entire scene from a distance, recognition of what was beginning to happen between the two detectives flashing in his mind. Running a hand through slick black hair, he opened his communicator, grinning as the grumpy face of his mentor appeared on the screen.
"What do you want, Yusuke?"
"I need to talk to Yukina for a minute, is she there?"
"No, she left for Shizuru's a while ago. Anything else, dimwit?"
Yusuke shook his head, "Nah, I just have something to ask her. Shizuru owes me a favor anyways. See ya, Grandma!"
Clicking it shut, he whistled cheerily, sprinting off where he knew a certain ice koorime and the smooth-talking sister of his best friend were visiting. A second later he switched directions, knowing that Keiko would want to be included in his little plan. 'You have no idea what's in store for you Hiei.'
Vixen's G-Den
FIK: I'm I evil or what? He he, cliffy's are so fun to mess with. Don't worry; I'm not going to make Botan and Hiei like fall desperately in love in like two days. I hate it when people have characters fall in love instantly. Sorry, love takes time people, and it makes a story soo much more interesting.
Hiei: You talk too much, baka onna who ruins my life.
FIK: You don't have a life, so what's there to ruin?
Hiei: (glares death at me)
FIK: (glares and throws a Teletubbie plushy at him)
Hiei: (screams and runs away)
FIK: REVIEW OR ELSE!!! (thinks: god, that's such an empty threat... T.T''')