Haha yes, I've decided to get my lazy bottom up to write another story! Yay!

Chapter four.

She would sit by the door at night, when she took a break from late paperwork. I could hear her sandals slapping the floors and when she slid to the floor with a sigh. I ssumed she held coffee, to keep her awake. At first, she tried talking to me. What to say back?
"Hello, Botan, my bed is uncomfortable and I sit in the dark. They give me crap to eat. Enough about me though, how's life without me?" I think that's hardly a good conversation starter. So I kept myself silent. She tried to talk to me for a while, but then she resorted into silence.
When I saw her for the first time in a year, I felt regret. Why didn't I answer?

When Hiei returned to the complex Botan lived in, it didn't suprise him they borthered to attempt a party. Even Yukina had arrived, which was strikingly odd because he was much faster then her. "Welcome back, Hiei!" They screamed. Hiei stared upon their faces, noticing something he immeadately frowned upon.

"Geez, Hiei," Yusuke said, thrusting a beer into his hand. "Relax, this isn't the prision showers."

"Where is Botan?" Taking another glance, he added, "And the ass?"

"Tacky," Kurama corrected. "They are still in Reikai." Hiei shoved Yusuke away, the detective's breath smelled of alcohol, a frown set on his grumpy face. Kurama has stuck to soda, knowning he would be the one to carry the drunkards home. "I've checked up on Botan. Tacky wasn't in sight, and she is working late."

Hiei cracked the beer open, staring at the friends he has surrounded himself with. "Who is he?" He asked.

"Yusuke said he had met him fighting a demon. Since we were already looking for a replacement, we gave it to him after we saw what he could do." Kurama explained. "He works well, but I doubt he paid any attention to the rules."

"He wants her, the bastard," Hiei mumbled, bringing the bottle to his lips and drinking contently.

"Botan has been working hard to keep him away and we help when it's needed."

The empty bottle was placed on a table and Hiei wiped his mouth with his jacket sleeve. "I'm going."

"Aw," Kuwabara cried, forcing a new bottle into Hiei's mouth. "you can't leave just yet, you're the star of the show. Botan'll be back soon." Hiei couldn't wrestle out of the gorilla's grasp until he finished the bottle. He pushed the idiot into his sister before quietly leaving from the door.

Kurama was quick in aiding Shizuru. "Thankfully Yokai's hold alcohol well." He said to himself.

Botan

Botan sighed, blowing upon the hot mug of coffee in her hands. The silence of late nights was not very soothing to her at all, but she'd learn to deal with it. However, she had no jail cell to sit next to anymore. Instead, she slid down against the wall, closing her eyes. "I'll just sleep for a minute..." She paused, forcing her eyes open. "No, I can't, I have to finish first." She froze, staring at the dark hallway to her left. She was sure she'd saw the glimmer of a demon around the corner. "Isn't that..." She said quietly. "the way to the jail cells?" Could it be another prison break? She reached into her hidden pocket, searching for her pocket communicator. She blinked, finding nothing in there. "Oh no," She cried in horror mentally. "it's on the desk! Okay, Botan, it looks like it's up to you."

Slowly, she placed her mug down, rising and walking towards the right hallway. She saw nothing yet. A sudden clang echoed through the halls and Botan screamed, bringing her hands together and waving her oar like there was no tomorrow. "Botan..?" Hiei questioned, staring at the back of her head. He had entered through the left.

"Hiei!" Botan gasped, dropping her hands to her side. The wooden oar dissappeared in a whisp of smoke. "Hiei, I think there's a demon there." She explained.

Hiei touched his katana and advanced forward. He examined every inch of the hall, by Yoki and foot. Botan followed him from behind, her fingers curled around her kinmono sleeves. "So there's nothing here? Are you sure? There could be a loose prisoner wandering around..." She paused, looking at Hiei. "Are you not going to answer?"

Hiei glanced at her; she had said the same thing the first night she came to his cell. He looked away and continued to search. Botan bowed her head, she had touched a nerve. She sighed, and then smiled. "It's alright though, I never expected you to answer anyways." When Hiei looked back at her, she tapped her head, giving an old-fashion cat face. "I was able to read your mind for a short time!"

Hiei's rough hands touched her shoulders and the lips she has yet to be familar with touched her own. A shocking taste of alcohol reached her. Botan absent-mindly wrapped her arms around his neck. Wait, alchohol! The rules! More importantly, the kiss! "Get your mind out of the gutters, Botan!" She mentally told herself. Even though her heart threatened death if pried from Hiei, she pulled away. After all, she was ready dead. "Hiei-" She said sadly. "Koenma... Do I smell alcohol?"

"Your friends are hosting a party." Hiei explained, stepping away from her akwardly.

"A party?" Botan questioned. She frowned, this was the work of Yusuke!

Hiei turned around to head back for the hallways. "Hn."

"Where are you going?" She asked, following him.

"Home." He said, leading her back to the office. "As for Koenma, he doesn't care anymore."

"What? Hiei, wait!" She touched her lips, watching as Hiei was swallowed by the darkness. "Hiei." She looked around, sighing. Her eyes stopped at Koenma's office door. "Koenma!"

Hiei.

Hiei was still awake when Botan came stumbling through the front door, dressed in her pajamas. He was lying in his own bed, the sheets thrown over him when Botan entered his room. Cautiously, Hiei turned to look at her. She was staring at him. "I've talked to Koenma, even if he was sleeping," she said. "and he told me what you wished for in return for being here. Thank you."

Hiei propped himself up by his arm. "For what?"

Botan gave a small smile. "I was beginning to think I wouldn't last ninety-nine years waiting for you to come back." She pulled a pillow out from behind her back, glancing at Hiei questionably. Hiei moved over and Botan snuggled in next to him. "Good night, Hiei." She said cheerfully.

"Hn."

This is where we leave you, boys." Botan said, looking at Hiei, Tacky, and Kurama. "Now, Kurama will lead the team while you hunt the demons. You'll need this, Kurama-" She handed over her pocket communicator. Kurama placed it into his pockets. "and be careful. We'll stay in contact when needed. We'll be sure to tell you if we find anything. Good luck boys!" Kurama and Tacky nodded. Botan nodded back to them, her hat falling from her head. She was wearing tourist clothings, so she would blend with the crowd. She turned to Yusuke and Kuwabara, who was preparing to depart. "Hurry up you two."

"Well," Yusuke said, circling Hiei. "She seems happy." Hiei glanced at them and, of course, they were staring back. Hiei moved away and entered the portal without a word. Kurama said a short good-bye before walking through himself. Kuwabara and Yusuke grinned, and turned around. However, before they could start, Tacky was holding them back.

"What's going on?"

Kuwabara pried Tacky off of his shoulder. "What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean, with Hiei and Botan."

Yusuke and Kuwabara turned to each other, and Yusuke heartily touched Tacky's shoulder, smiling. "Tacky, I know you've had your eye on Botan-"

Tacky laughed. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh, come on," Kuwabara inturrupted. "Everyone can tell, but it's not going to happen. The rules says no relations with partners. Besides, you'll be dead before you can touch her now."

Tacky raised his eyebrow. "Why?"

"Hiei, of course, the loveable brute." replied Yusuke, he had stopped smiling. "We're warning you as your friend, Tackman. Botan's off limits for good. Why do you think Hiei went to jail?"

"Yusuke! Kuwabara!" Botan's impacient voice echoed through the hall. Yusuke and Kuwabara gave Tacky one more glance before walking away. Tacky, frowning, pasted through the portal. Hiei and Kurama were kind enough to wait for him, although Hiei was frowning. Tacky's frown turned into a smile.

"Okay," Tacky said, smiling. "Where to now?"

"Hiei and I know where to find a demon who may possibly know some information. If we head down this shortcut-"

"No way," Tacky inturrupted. "I feel as if something bad is going to hapen there. Besides, everyone knows a shortcut has a detour to problems. I'd rather take the longer way."

"If we have detours, we overpass it." Hiei argued, but Kurama was already following Tacky's lead.

"Tacky may be right."

"You know there is nothing wrong with the orginial path-"

"It's never too early to think about the teams health, old timer." Tacky inturrupted, waving his hand.

Kurama grabbed Hiei's shoulder before he could fume. "Swallow your pride and lets go."

Botan-Yusuke-Kuwabara

"I hate airports." Yusuke growled, gritting his teeth as he was searched. "We're going to miss the plane."

"Koenma said he'd have a friend take care of everything..." Botan said, clutching her bag of spirit detective items protectively. She glanced at her watch, frowning. "You're right."

Suddenly, the officer frisking Yusuke stopped. "Sorry I'm late. Go on." A voice like Koenma's said. "The lane to the left. Privately for you."

"Thank you, Koenma, sir!" Botan said, bowing before running off. Yusuke punched the officer lightly.

"Geez, why didn't you come when he was searching my lower half." He said, partly annoyed. Koenma smirked and Kuwabara pushed Yusuke ahead. Botan was waiting for them at the entrance. "So where are we going first?"

"Hawaii!" Botan cried in happiness, her cat ears appearing. Kuwabara and Yusuke stared at her.

"You set that up, didn't you?" asked Kuwabara.

Botan purred. "Maybe. It's a job and a vacation, all in one!"

Yusuke turned to Kuwabara. "More like our job and her vacation." Botan folded her arms stubbornly as Kuwabara nodded in agreement. Yusuke's pocket was ringing, and Yusuke pulled out the pocket communicator. "Talk to-Hiei!" Kuwabara and Botan crowded around Yusuke, trying to see what was the matter. A line of blood trailed dow Hiei's face and he was panting.

"That bastard, Kurama's down-Tacky's gone-"

"Hiei, calm down, what happened to your head?" asked Botan.

"More importantly," Kuwabara said, "what happened?"

"We were attacked. Kurama's unconsious and Tacky's missing."

Yusuke closed the pocket communicator shut. "Don't worry, we'll get you help." He turned to Botan. "You're all we got right now. I'll tell Koenma about this."

Botan nodded, fear in her eyes. "Hold on, Hiei!"

"Hiei, I've lost sight of Tacky." Kurama said, looking around.

Hiei stuffed his hands into his pocket. "He shouldn't have gone so fast."

Kurama nodded. "Perhaps he's just excited. He's never-Hiei!" Hiei was knocked down as Kurama threw himself upon him. Still shocked, Hiei watched as Kurama pulled a needle from his side, surprised as well, before falling limp.

"Shit." Hiei said softly, rolling Kurama off of him. He stood up, pulling out his katana. Why couldn't he sense it earlier? Masked demons dropped from the trees. Most held needles similar to the one at Kurama's side.

The demon to the left threw a needle. Hiei turned, bending the tip of his blade. He let it go once the needle touched the cold steel. The needle bounced back, piercing the demon at the heart. There was too many to take down one at a time. He sheathed his katana, curling his hand into a fist. Dark glames swallowed his whole arm. Using his speed to an advantage, half of the demons were dead due to a punch here and there. Hiei stumbled as he was flicked in the head with a sword. He stumbled, feeling blood trickle down his face.

"They mock me." He hissed, breaking the ribs and crushing the heart of the smart-ass. It all became easier then, and Hiei was soon trampling upon the bodies, searching for Kuramas. Through all the questions, there was one thing he needed to do first. At the sight of red hair Hiei ran towards it. Kurama had a faint pulse, he was dying. He pulled from Kurama's pocket Botan's communicator. He nearly ripped it open, trying to catch his breath.

Where the hell was Tacky?

"Kurama is in a coma. They did poison him, it wasn't quick enough to cause serious problems though. Tacky was found not far from you two. He was ambushed." Hiei and Botan sat outside the Reikai hospital wing. Koenma stood nearby, overgoing the new plan. "Seeing as Kurama may or may not wake up in time-Botan will take his place. Yusuke and Kuwabara have already boarded the plane."

Botan sighed. "Fair enough. There went my vacation." Koenma reached up and patted her shoulder for comfort.

"Don't worry, you'll still get a vacation. If you overlook all the danger, Maikai is a relaxing place."

"Team leader?" Hiei asked, rummaging through his pockets and handing Botan her communicator.

"You are, Hiei. The demons seem to know our objectives in Maikai. Botan will provide a healer at hand if they try another attack." A nurse opened the door to Kurama's room and Koenma entered.

Tacky's room door opened and Tacky, looking very abashed, join the rest of them. "Dude, Hiei," He said slowly. "I'm sorry about Kurama."

Hiei chose to ignore him, closing his eyes to take a small nap. Tacky turned to Botan.

"Tacky," She holding her hat, "I can't help you here. I'm with Hiei."

Tacky head back into his room. "Yeah, in more ways then one."

"Excuse me?" Botan said, almost dropping her hat, but Tacky shut the door to his room. Kurama's door opened again and Koenma came out again.

"Right, so as I was saying. Hiei and Botan, you start the mission again tomorrow."

"Yes,sir."

End.