Chapter 16

Truth is Finally Spoken

Her heart was pounding so hard she could feel it on her rib cage. She knew who was holding her now. But…she didn't want him to follow her! Why couldn't he understand that! Then she figured something out. All those nights…it was always wide open…no matter how he tried to hide it…she knew…and that meant…he knew how…

'Shit.' Botan cursed silently to herself. Then she got an awesome idea. She knew how to tell him…

Hiei soon pulled away and stared at Botan's tear stained face. Her eyes opened and sparkled as the moonlight hit them full force. "Onna…?" He asked seeing if she was ok.

"Hai." She whispered and promptly fainted.

Hiei was shocked to say the least. 'Must have used too much energy…' Hiei grabbed Botan and pulled her into his arms carrying her bridal style back to their camp. Her outfit was completely torn and would need to be thrown away and a new one be bought.

He placed her on his lap as he rested against the tree when they arrived at their spot. He too, soon fell into a deep slumber.

oOo

"What could they be?" Shouted a very enraged spirit detective.

"I'm sure they'll be fine." Kurama said knowingly as he held the ice maiden closely to his body. She smiled and snuggled up closer to him. They had grown very fond of each other over the past couple of months.

"What's going on!" Kuwabara shouted. He was totally and utterly confused. "Wait...where could who be?" He scratched his head.

"Baka…" Yusuke muttered.

oOo

Dragon Realm 1967

"What the hell…?" Muttered a very confused Koorime.

"I dunno…but can I stay with you?" Came a reply from beside him.

Hiei almost jumped and looked down realizing that Botan was no longer in his arms or in the water. Then he looked forwards edging his head slowly. He sweat dropped when he came face to face with Botan herself.

"Uh…"

"What?" Botan pouted. 'She looks so cu…whoa whoa whoa!' Hiei mentally slapped himself. He was not to think things of the onna in any way shape of form especially like that.

"Can I?" She asked again.

"I was going to tell you that you could, but I found you lying on you're back with a dagger sticking out and Aritha looked to be in the same state." Hiei explained as a matter-of-factly.

"Oh…I was?" Botan asked.

Hiei's eyes almost popped out of socket. She didn't remember. He looked at his wrist trying to figure some things out…when he saw a red dragon with blue eyes etched around his wrist. He grabbed Botan's hand and noticed she too had the same thing on her hands.

"Hey what's the big idea?"

"The pattern…you sure you don't remember anything that happened?" Hiei asked. When she shook her head he growled low in his throat. There was a long pause before a rock falling to the ground pierced the silence.

"What's going on?"

'He's here…' Hiei stood as the quakes became more fierce and walked out of the cave Botan following close behind. Aritha was sitting on a large rock outside and everything looked normal.

Except…there was another large dragon sitting atop the cave. He was black with three horns on his head, bright green eyes that made him look almost…evil. He was well build for a dragon...more than Aritha.

"Who is that and where did he come from?" Botan asked turning to Hiei who was staring at the dragon in awe. What he said next made it seem like it was the most casual thing in the world.

"That onna...is my dragon."

END FLASHBACK

oOo

That is what they dreamt as they slept. Of their past lives which Botan could still hardly believe was hers. Then she remembered what she was going to tell Hiei. She opened her eyes to find herself in strong arms.

She tried to get out of his arms but they closed around her like a flytrap. She sighed in annoyance. More fun...

She finally was able to pry his hands off of her with something unknown even tothe author…

She walked over to her bag and took out her diary and a pen. She opened it and wrote the date and began to write about her day with Hiei.

oOo

Hiei awoke to the warmth leaving his body. He opened his eyes and looked down to see Botan missing. He still didn't get to tell her how he felt. He had to...soon.He looked over and saw her lying on the ground pen off to the side with her diary in her arms. A little peek couldn't hurt.

He stood up and crept silently up to her. He took the diary carefully out of her embrace and turned to today's day.

Dear Diary,

Today wasn't the best day ever. But it was good nonetheless. Hiei tried to tell me something but we were rudely interrupted when Muro came and spoiled everything. I still don't know what he was going to say though. Well I kicked Muro's ass! YEAH! (Clears throat) Anyway, I know, not the language a deity should use, but I really don't care. There's one thing I figured out. Every time I woke up, no matter who tried to hide it my diary was always wide-open…weird huh? And I just figured out who it was. It's Hiei. He's been reading my diary and now he knows almost everything I've kept hidden from anyone else. He's the first person to know the real me. And I know you're reading this now Hiei…and there's one thing I've never said aloud nor have I told you, I really don't care what you say about it…but…I Love You…

oOo

Dragon Realm 1967

"Y-Your dragon?" A blue haired girl stuttered.

"Yes, his name is Ryo. He's been with me for as long as I can remember." Hiei said. The dragon flew down in front of them. Aritha seemed to take an immediate liking to him. Botan stared at Ryo in awe.

He was beautiful to say the least. He nuzzled Hiei's chest and Hiei smirked…a half smile more to say. Botan was shocked.

"Wow…" She stepped towards him and Ryo turned towards her. She was frightful when he lay his mystifying eyes upon her, but when he did the same thing to her that he did to Hiei she relaxed immediately.

It was Hiei's turn to be shocked now. "He's never taken a liking to someone that quickly before, usually he just burns them to a crisp." Botan sweat dropped.

"Well you said that our emotions are linked to our dragons, so you must like me enough to where your dragon feels it." Hiei grunted.

"Yeah right."

"It's your call Hiei, not mine." Botan rubbed Ryo's head.

Did he really like the onna?

END FLASHBACK

"S…She what?"

I Love You

The words rang out through his head like a beautiful melody. She loved him and in return…he could…

Botan's eyes started to twitch then open. "Hiei?" She mumbled. He had long put the book away and was now staring at her in the eye as she stood in front of him. "What's wrong?" He said nothing more…

He wrapped his arms swiftly around her waist and held her tightly. "Botan…"

She was shocked already.

"I…I love you too." She was even more shocked, but her mind went to jello when his lips met hers in a passionate kiss that they would remember for a long time. Her arms found their way around his neck deepening the kiss while Hiei held her tighter if possible.

They soon broke apart for air. "Hiei…" The world slipped of her lips like a breath of wind in winter. She wrapped her arms around his waist and cried letting it all out. That would be the only time she showed weakness on this journey…from then on, it was hard-core searching for Aritha.

Hiei would get her through hard times and she swore to herself that no matter what, her soul would remained untouched and she would not cry.

To be continued...