FIK: I would like to mention all my reviewers and thank them for there support, especially Silver-kyubi, Robin Autumn, Silverchild of the wind and Crystal Koneko who each reviewed more than 5 times! Special thanks to dragontamer103088 for her idea of a flashback, all credit except the actual writing goes to her/him! Thanks all! Luv and cyber cookies to everyone!
Reviewers:
Silver-kyubi (6), Smirking Arrogance, Dragon Tamer103088 (3), Robin Autumn (7), Pen Against Sword (4), Animeluv09 (3 ), Priestess Rin (2), darkspirals (2), Daine-Weirynsra, TopazDragon (4), Silverchild of the wind (5), Crystal Koneko (7), AnkokuHiKitsune, Runaway Kogoro, kawaii chibi shun (2), Anime's-mistress, pychopyro16 (2), Tsume-Hiei luver, demonhiei'sgirl, Flyboy-62, Tsuki Koorime, HBfanatic, and Damenight.
Chapter Ten: Dedicated to Valentine's everywhere
They had been dancing for ages, and Botan felt she was going to be sick rather than be enchanted with this perpetual world of steps, dips and twirls. Somehow, however, when she wanted to stop or rest, Ryoushi would persuade her to stay, gripping her with iron hands, eyes becoming dark and lethal. Fearful, she accepted, saying happily that she would rest later, though the happiness was false and her face felt like it would crack. If there was ever a time that she wanted Him to show up and wreck the party, now would be it.
Unknown to her, they had been dancing more and more away from the other dancers, becoming enshrouded in shadows as they waltzed a path to a concealed hallway. Botan was too tired to really notice anything, that is, until he stopped. Botan stumbled, crashing gracelessly into his chest, cold hands grabbing her shoulders callously. Tired eyes widened, looking around at the corridor they were in, one of the secret ones only employees and workers used to get somewhere quickly. In other words, completely and totally, hidden.
"Ryoushi-san, what are we doing here? Shouldn't we go back to the-"
A sound smack sent her staggering back a few feet, clutching her cheek as ripples of pain flooded down her spine. Fear kicked in milliseconds later, amethyst eyes flickering black for a moment. She knew she could fight him with her new found strength, but right now she was exhausted and there was no way she would win in her condition...
'THAT'S WHY HE DANCED SO MUCH! TO TIRE ME OUT!'
His blue eyes were no longer blue, no, they were yellow, a dreadful, lusty yellow that made bile rise in her throat. His fangs elongated, a terrible smile spreading manically across his face.
"Botan, trusting, innocent Botan. You know that you can't escape so do me a favor and don't try; I like it better when they can still... respond." He hissed a hungry desire thick in his now scratchy voice.
"You're disgusting." Botan whispered, slowly backing away. He smiled again, making the hair on the back of her neck prickle.
"Oh, am I? And what of you? Sleazing around with that loathsome creature, the revolting thing Koenma so proudly calls an ally? Yes, I'm the disgusting one is I? Listen here, lovely, he deserves to die for what he is: a foul mistake that smears the name of the demon race, one that should have been disposed of the minute he was born by that whore mother of his."
Botan stared at him, a boiling fury raging insider her, murderous thoughts racing through her mind as he continued his rant, slashing and hacking at the one demon she knew deserved respect above anything else. Her hair frizzed out with her building energy, body tensed, and eyes flashing white, black, settling on red.
"You..."
Ryoushi seized his rant, becoming aware of a change in the deity's demeanor. His eyes narrowed, lips twisting into an ugly scowl. That bitch was going to challenge him! How dare that disgraceful piece of ass, assuming to fight her master. He would show her who was boss. Yes, he would teach her a lesson she would—
—A world of hurt erupted in his throat, blood flying out his mouth as he reeled backwards, gurgling his threats with a voice that no longer worked. He choked, sprawled helplessly on the ground, eyes wide in pain and shock. Red eyes glared down at him, a foot coming up and pressing harshly down onto his open wound. He tried to cry out in pain, but his vocal cords had been slashed, along with most of his face.
"Disgusting, foolish damnation. You will pay for your mortal insults open this one's Chosen. Die despicable scum." She sneered, her voice replaced with one savage and harsh.
She would have killed him right there without a second thought, would have taken away the life the vile creature below her. She would have, if not for catching sight of another pair of crimson eyes, watching impassively from the entryway.
Moments later, her eyes returning to their normal amethyst tint, Botan shakily tottered towards the shadowed figure, her face portraying their mistrust and alarm. A few feet away, she stopped, shook violently, and then sank to her knees, staring at her blood covered hands, eyes hidden from view.
(Small note: Yes, that was a bit of Demon Rage; the next part Botan believes she is imagining things again; just so that no one's confused! ;P )
"N-No..." She cried, voice cracking. Hot tears streamed down her cheeks, blurring her vision. A sob escaped her, followed by another, and soon she was crying piteously, hands curled into fists, shaking as she drew herself into a ball of silk and sparkles.
"No... N-not again. Oh, please, j-just let it s-stop. I-I can't take this anymore, why am I haunted b-by something that-t will never be t-true?" She moaned.
Footsteps approached her, slow, heavy strides.
"P-Please stay away. I want t-this to end..." She cried to herself.
They came closer, closer, and then stopped. Botan whimpered, closing her eyes tightly, hopping that this haunting vision would go away. Hot breath, oh so real, tickled her ear, a pair of strong arms enveloping her, pulling her up, up. She felt herself being pillowed against a warm chest, the sound of a heart beating playing a lullaby in her mind. She sighed, snuggling her head into him, shivering as his hands came up to her hair, stroking her the way they had so long ago, back on a rainy day in a chilly cave...
"If... if only this was real..." she whispered to herself.
"And if it was?" Spoke a deep voice, rumbling inside the chest she was cradled against.
"Then... then I could be... happy." She murmured, touching the silky shirt covering his chest, admiring the perfect way it ran along her fingertips.
"Happy? How could you ever be happy with me?" He asked in his normal detached tone.
"Because... I wouldn't be alone anymore..." She replied, voice barely audible.
"Onna."
Botan opened her eyes, knowing that this wonderful dream was about to end. Before her, twin rubies glistened at her, shards of silver enhancing their normal color.
"Hai?"
"Am I not real, onna?" He asked quietly.
Her eyes widened, heart beating fast as she sat up quickly, pulling slightly away from him. Gaping wide, she blinked rapidly, only to find that she was awake.
"Hiei!" She shouted.
He grinned faintly, darkly amused as she shuddered, almost scared.
"Hai, onna?"
She didn't reply, but instead stared at him again, noticing something a bit different about him. She had seen his eyes and had taken it as a glint of light, but they truly did have silver in them now. His hair had a blue star inside of the silver white one. His face was less icy, almost calm, but different, more open somehow, his Jagan covered with a white bandana stitched with a red design... fire.
"You're not the only one who had to change." He said, bringing her out of her trance. He stood, turning his back to her. He pulled his shirt out of his pant, pulling it over his head. And there, right in the middle of his shoulder blades, was a tattoo of a black teardrop, encircled by an azure dragon spinning like a wheel of flames. Making sure she had seen it, he twisted back around, tucking his shirt hurriedly back in. Botan caught a glimpse of his usually bandaged arm; something white was now showing inside the black one.
"You-You... Hiei." She murmured, eyes tearing over again.
His brows furrowed, something glinting in his eyes that she took as unease. Without warning, he wrapped his arms around her, bringing her back to where she was before. Botan gasped, shifting so that she could see his face. He was scowling, softly, nowhere near as cold as it usually was.
"Start crying again and I'll have to kill you." He said coldly. Botan caught the gleam of teasing in his eyes, but nodded anyways, not wanting to break the moment by refusing.
"Why did you leave Hiei? Why did you just disappear like that? Was it because of what I said? I'm sorry if it was, please don't rush off again!" Botan said half-frightened.
"Do you always think it's your fault, onna?" He muttered, crimson silver eyes darkening with resentment, "To shut you up, no, it's not your fault. And to answer your question... it was because of you I left, not for what you said."
Botan whimpered, guilt flooding into her aura. Hiei growled, tightening his hold on her.
"Stop that baka onna. Someone such as you should not feel guilt for someone like me. I am entirely what that bastard said I was... and more."
"NO!"
Hiei jerked, staring as Botan shot up, clutching his shirt as a life line. She glared at him with all the anger her petite self could manage, which can be rather intimidating, though it wasn't close to scaring the fire koorime into submission.
"Don't you ever say that? Do you hear me, Hiei Jaganshi! If you ever think of yourself like that, I will personally smack some sense into you!" She yelled, heaving, lightening flashing across her eyes.
Hiei, bemused, crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow at the fuming deity. Botan sat back on her heels, crossing her own arms, her lip puckered into an enticing pout.
"I doubt you'll ever be able to 'smack some sense into' me, onna. I am curious, though, as to what you think of me." He said disdainfully.
"A lot more than you think of yourself, that's for sure." She spat, rolling her eyes.
"And what is that?" He scowled sarcastically.
"You're strong, fearless, honorable, respecting (mostly anyways) umm... Oh! You care about Yukina; you're controlled, unbeatable when it comes to speed, uh..." She stopped, putting a finger to a chin in her 'thinking' pose.
Unnoticed to her, Hiei had stood, his silver rubies darkened to a rich crimson, staring intently on the oblivious blue haired ferry girl.
"Let's see here, you are considerate at times, like at the Dark Tournament and you let Yusuke fight the guy you wanted to; incredibly smart, though sometimes you really are a baka-"
Burning hands brushed her neck, sliding purposefully down her shoulders to her arms. Botan inhaled sharply, freezing where she was; face flushed and pale at the same time. Hot breath puffed in her ear, sending a shock of electricity down the length of her spine, shivers erupting from the change in warmth. Something brushed against the back of her neck, soft, warm, moist...
"Am I that admirable, onna?" Came his gruff, honeyed tone.
Botan quivered under his hands, much to his satisfaction.
"Yes... You always have been." She murmured lowly.
His fingers drew tiny circles on her wrists, small pulses of warmth radiating from each stroke. Botan turned her head slightly, amethyst pools darkening to stained lavenders. Crimson eyes bore into her, their intensity terrifying and alluring in the same moment, captivating her.
"Hai... Always." She repeated, bringing her hand to his face, carefully touching his cheek, laying her palm gently against his heated skin. Hiei made no movement to pull away; instead he brought his hand up, capturing hers under his, and pressing his face into her delicate hand.
"Onna... Do you know what you do to me?"
Her eyes widened, a tiny shake of her head causing strands of her silken hair to brush his face.
"Iie. Gomen ne, Hiei-sama." She whispered sadly.
"Stop that; stop apologizing, for it means nothing."
She nodded, swallowing.
"Do I bring you pain, Hiei?"
"Hai."
Botan tried to pull away, now knowing that just being with her was tormenting him, but an iron grip caught her wrist, halting her. She gazed back at him, tears shinning unshed in her eyes, tiny crystallites of sorrow and guilt.
"Why are you stopping me Hiei? All I am doing is making you miserable, so what's the point in prolonging the pain? Please, tell me why?"
She found herself being wrapped by a pair of unyielding arms. Sobbing, she buried her face into his chest, memories of all the times they had been together flashing in her mind, only to bring more guilt to her breaking heart. Warm hands touched her back, rubbing gently, trying desperately to calm her.
"Onna, onegai, your killing me slowly with your crying."
She froze; what did he just say? Tears streaming in glistening rivers trailed along her cheeks, her watery gaze surrendering his motions.
"What... What did you say?" She choked with a strangled, dazed voice.
In all the days she'd known Hiei, even when he was around Yukina, she'd never seen his face so expressive, his eyes shinning so brightly. A gentle hand traced her cheek, his thumb brushing away her fallen tears.
His voice was tender, pleasant in her ears, and perfectly serious.
"I said... you're killing me slowly with your tears..." He murmured, trailing off.
His face lowered inch by antagonizing inch, his eyes intent on hers, their breaths mingling, scents becoming one. His lips brushed hers; it wasn't a kiss, but a temptation. Her tongue came out to moisten her lips as if in anticipation of something darkly sweet and strictly forbidden. He touched his mouth to hers again with a lightness that had the blood pounding in his head. He wanted... her; to crush and devour almost as much as he wanted to savor. Her lips were damp and the subtle mix of lilacs and spring winds surrounded him, as did a stimulating aroma of thunder during a storm. When she didn't move, Hiei traced the shape of her mouth with his tongue, committing it to memory while he absorbed the flavor.
Botan felt the thick, liquefying pleasure seep into her, somewhat unknown to her, but readily accepted. Her lids were too heavy and fluttered closed; her muscles relaxed. For the first time in her memory her mind went blank—a clean slate on which he could have written anything he desired. She felt the tiny arousing pain as he nipped her full bottom lip, and her mind filled again, but not with thoughts.
His body was against hers, hard and lean. His mouth was so soft, softer than she thought any man's could be, like the brush of fine silk against naked flesh. With no thoughts of resisting, Botan let her arms curve around his neck, her head dropping back in invitation.
Hiei felt an almost savage need to plunder as he gripped her hair in his hand.
"Open your eyes," he demanded.
While he watched, the heavy lids opened to reveal lavender eyes misted with pleasure.
"Look at me when I kiss you..."
Hovering just above her mouth, the promise already made, and time speeding too quickly to stop what was happening, he added,
"...Botan..."
She gasped, and then his mouth crushed hers, ruthless, ravaging. He could hear his own heartbeat raging in his chest as he plunged deeper. He discovered tastes, endless flavors, in the recesses he explored as her tongue answered with equal urgency. His eyes were only slits while he watched the misty pleasure in hers smolder into passion then become opaque. On a moan, they closed, and then his vision blurred.
Botan felt desire grip her as if it had claws. Wants, needs, secrets, were exposed in one tumultuous explosion. Even as she hungered to fulfill them she realized he was a man who could strip her to the soul. And she cared not. In the miniscule sane portion of her mind she knew he would always take without regard for willingness. And still, she did not care. She wanted him now, and nothing, no stupid conscience or innocent fright would stop her.
Time stood still then, the shadows secreting the passionate meeting of lips, two lonely, confused souls finally realizing their mistakes, their stubbornness pushed aside for a moment of perfection and heat. They continued, their needs growing with each passing second...
Heat, it was all heat. Living flames made up her skin, velvet darkness as her lips. His were firm and demanding, hot as fire, but tasting of spices: savory and strong. She'd known he'd be rough, but this... this put being rough into obsoleteness. It was exotic, slightly forceful, smooth, and ever so warm. He was an inferno, smoky and an illusionism; his smell of cinnamon and foreign spices flooding in a jagged current, making her head light and thoughts blurry.
His lips brushed over hers, a sizzling promise, before they crashed downwards again onto her already swollen and supple mouth. She groaned fervently, tightening her hold on his shoulders, her pliable body pressed tightly to the firm wall of strength and vigor that made up his figure. Her scent wafted upwards once more, divulging into his already cloudy mind: lilacs, a spring wind... and that invigorating tang of thunderstorms...
Lips tingling, they pulled slowly apart, panting for air. Botan's knees gave out, but Hiei held her firmly. Moments passed, and after a long while, their gazes met. Red greeted purple-pink, holding, hunger and bewilderment passing through their stares. They stayed this way, him pressing her to him, her arms wound around his neck in a steel grip, breaths mixing as they breathed heavily. Plucking some courage from god knows where, Botan reached up, pressing her lips momentarily to his throat, coming up to kiss his lips; but this kiss was sweet, innocent, one that demanded the truth and asked for nothing in return.
"Why... I thought you hated me..." She managed to say, touching his lips again, wanting to savor, to believe that this was something more than desire.
"Iie..." Hiei answered gruffly, rubbing the sides of her arms, observing but not interfering with her innocent acts of longing. She stopped, waiting.
"As much as I hate humans, I think I have come to loathe tourists more," He said, speaking quietly, humorously, "and, you are neither, though I had hated you at first..."
Botan smiled gratefully, tracing his dragon tattooed arm.
"Why though... I don't really know... There was something strange about you and it intrigued me, curiosity in the beginning, then interest and now..."
"Hush..." Botan whispered, placing a finger on his lips. He looked down at her blankly, reverting slightly back to his usual disconcerted self. Botan stiffened at this, shaking her head frantically.
"No, don't do that. I didn't stop you because I didn't want to hear it; I wanted to, it's just... I know now, what you think of me and I'm happy because of it. Hiei, please, this, what has happened, is so... out of the blue."
Hiei stared at her for a second, pondering. To her relief, he visible relaxed, a small smirk flitting onto his face. Giving him a watery smile, Botan placed a quick, charming kiss on his lips, pausing as he returned the favor. Slipping away, she was about to ask him if he wanted to go back, when his hand reached out, grabbing at something at her neck.
"Where did you get this!" He hissed, holding up her necklace. Dangling from the end was a black tear gem, a glitter of blue shinning from within its crystallized beauty.
"It's... Its mine." Botan answered, blushing.
"Nani?" Hiei said, taken aback.
"Hai. Yusuke gave it to me. He said he found it when he went back to hide the evidence of... that day. It was lying where we had been."
Hiei nodded and was going to hand it to her when he paused, pulling something out from his pant pocket. There in his hand was his red tear gem, strapped to a black, intricate metal of some sort. He stared at it for a few seconds, and then silently wrapped it around her wrist, placing her tear gem around his own neck. Botan looked at the gem without a word, understanding what this meant.
"Hiei?"
"What?" He asked, tucking the necklace under his shirt. He took hold of her hand, entwining it with his hesitantly.
"Before we go back, can you do something?"
"Hai, what is it?"
"Say my name."
His crimson silver eyes locked with hers, capturing her once again in a realm of unnamable feelings and wishes. She thought he wasn't going to do it, was almost certain he wasn't, but as they walked out of the corridor and towards the gaily lit ball room, she swore she heard his grumpy voice:
"Hn. Whatever... Botan..."
Vixen's G-Den
FIK: Soo... what are your thoughts? This is the first time I've had to illustrate a serious H/B kiss and I wasn't sure how to keep it natural, as in not too OOC, but good at the same time. Okay, great, horrid, stupendous? Anywayz, I hope you liked all the H/B, and don't worry, the party's not over yet (God, I sure hope not). More to come, promise! Luv ya all! Review if you would, the buttons over there...
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Hiei: AHH! Stop aiming that thing at me!
FIK: Uhh... oops?