Chapter 14

An Old Enemy and a New Power

"What is it Hiei?" Her amethyst eyes mesmerized Hiei. They were so innocent and caring. He loved the way they sparkled in the moonlight.

"I have been thinking a lot lately about this and I…I…" He couldn't bring himself to say it! Why couldn't he say it! It was only three words! 'Yeah…three words that could break, shatter, or bring joy to my heart…' He thought. Obviously he'd thought about this a lot. Botan was staring up into his beautiful crimson eyes. They seemed to be hidden behind a mask of conflict. She stared at him questioningly.

"I…lo-" All of a sudden there was a large crash and suddenly the peacefulness of the night was gone. Air whipped around them as Hiei pulled Botan to her feet with him standing protectively in front of her. She clutched the back of his cloak so she wouldn't be lifted into the air…and in this situation it was possible!

Hiei moved to where his left arm was around Botan waist from behind. Botan's eyes were shut tight. The dragon tear on her chest was glowing brightly. She gasped as she opened her eyes a bit. Her head whipped around behind her then over Hiei's shoulder. There, floating in the air was a shadowed figure. You couldn't see his face, but you could tell he was a man.

Botan narrowed her eyes trying to figure out where she hadfelt that aura before. Hiei was watching the floating figure suspiciously. He knew that aura, but from where. He too was trying to figure it out.

"I see you are trying to guard the key of my affection Hiei." Hiei growled. He knew who it was now.

"Botan, I want you to stay as far back as possible." Hiei said.

"But, I can fight! I'm stronger than you!" That came out faster than she could keep it in. But surprisingly, Hiei only growled. I guess it was due to the fact that they were facing a strong opponent who was hiding his spirit energy.

"Look onna! I don't have time to hear your complaining! NOW GO!" Hiei knew something she didn't and she was damned if he was gonna keep it from her. She scowled and ran over to the wall next to the sliding door. The figure spotted her.

"Ah my dear, where do you think your going?" He said and was about to attack when a flash of metal caught his eyes.

"Your fight Muro, is with me!" Hiei shouted at the man. (Muro from the diary entry in chapter 2)

The man snorted and stripped himself of the bothersome robe. He had long deep blue hair with piercing orange eyes. They were mesmerizing and Botan found herself lost in them. Muro turned to her and smirked. "That's right my dear, you are-" He was cut of when Hiei's fist collided with his face. He had blood coming from the tip of his mouth when he smirked. H whipped the blood from his mouth and looked at the fire demon.

"I don't have time for a worthless love raged fire demon when I have business to attend to." Muro said. And with one slash of his arm, Hiei was flung out into the darkness out of sight.

Muro turned his attention to the blue haired deity. She was staring where Hiei had disappeared. "I have many plans for you. Buttercup has informed me of all the things you have been up to. Even you fair attraction to our friend Hiei." Muro smirked as Botan turned her glazed eyes to him. "Yes I know all about the both of you. How he's kissed you, how he is also very attracted to you. To be honest, I think it's a lot more than attraction for the both of you." Muro noticed that Botan was paying him no attention, but was still staring blankly at the dark area where Hiei disappeared.

A figure was walking towards them. Soon black hair and scarlet eyes could be made out. Hiei was walking back to them, without a single scratch on his body. He smirked.

Muro held a scowl on his face. "So you've gotten stronger Hiei." He held out his hand towards the koorime. Hiei never noticed the ice crystal come up behind Botan with a sharp edge. Botan just sat on the edge of the balcony staring at Hiei with lifeless eyes that were as dull as the new moon. Hiei winced at the intensity of her orbs.

Muro smirked. "What have you done to her you bastard!" Hiei shouted anger rising in his voice. His voice seemed to have an effect on her. There was a flicker of an unknown emotion that crossed her eyes. But as soon as it appeared it was gone.

"Nothing she can't get out of herself." Then Hiei saw a flash of something glimmer. He looked over and saw the sharp crystal. He recognized it immediately. The crystal was only to be wielded by one person. That person being Muro. When gaining enough power, it could kill its target instantly. Powerful or no.

"Onna!" Hiei shouted as Botan's body stood.

'NO HIEI! STAY AWAY!' Her mind screamed. She had no control over her body. Her eyes turned gray and looked even more lifeless than before.

"No Hiei, the only thing in your life that you've grown to love, will be destroyed!" Muro shouted as the crystal launched at Botan as fast as lightning. But…

Hiei was faster. He got in the way and instead of Botan, was stabbed with the crystal. Blue drops of water formed in the corners of Botan's cotten candy eyes. "HIEI!" She gained control of her body once again and felt the spell dematerialize from her body. She tried to run over to him, but something stopped her.

A bright light erupted from Botan's dragon tear. All of her emotions called out to the one thing and one thing only. The one thing that could help her...

Botan's eyes glazed over the deep ocean color of blue. Trees and grass everywhere were pushed back due to the force of the wind coming out of nowhere. Botan's outfit started to glow and then disappear.

She was soon wearing a beautiful tight fitting, thigh high, battle dress. Hiei fell to the ground, blood everywhere. His eyes threatened to shut, but he made sure they wouldn't. Tried to anyway.

Botan was gasping for air as a cloud of darkness came and clutched around her. Boots formed on her feet and a chocker with a skull hanging in the front materialized around her neck. A thigh ring, as they called it, materialized around her right upper thigh with a dagger strapped securely in place.

Her cerulean hair cascaded down her back in brilliants shining curls. Hiei watched in amazement as her transformation occurred, but he knew she couldn't be doing this on her own.

As the thought crossed his mind, Botan's closed eyes opened to show a bright amethyst life filled color. She was lowered to the ground, but a force highered her a bit off the ground.

Botan didn't see it yet, but Muro and Hiei did. A beautiful dragon came up behind Botan. Her skin the color of a beautifulblack, and ared jewel in the middle of her forehead, surrounded bytwo well sharpened horns.

The dragon...was none other than Aritha The Guardian Dragon.

To be continued...