Last Day: Monday

Hiei woke drenched in sweat, his pants sticking to his body like an extra skin. He was tangled in the sheets, but, amazingly, Botan was still sleeping peacefully, although she was ensnared in the troublesome bedclothes as well. His raven bangs were sticking to his forehead and his skin felt clammy. Looking at Botan next to him sent his head into dizzy spells, so he averted his eyes.

Rising unsteadily, Hiei planted his feet infirmly on the carpet and attempted to stand rather precariously. His body swayed as another round of dizziness overtook him and he plopped to his knees, the cushiony layering on the floor of the living room muffling his fall, keeping Botan asleep. He didn't want her to see him in such a state of weakness. It made him feel slightly inadequate.

Instead of trying to stand again, Hiei crawled on his hands and knees toward the kitchen, only one thought on his mind at that moment.

Coffee. Hazelnut coffee.

He figured that maybe the caffeine in the drink would dispel some of this pain and sickness. He wasn't exactly sure if the mating season was the reason, but that was the only factor that he could procure that would explain the situation. To think he, the mighty Hiei, the only known master of the Dragon of the Darkness Flame, the Jaganshi, could be stultified by a mere mating season. This was not only particularly onerous, but it was infuriating.

Hiei could feel his rage burning quickly inside from a smoldering flame to a roaring flash fire. He knew what to do in this situation. He reached deep inside of his core and balled the rage, funneling it into his limbs, feeling the energy pulse and throb and grow to support his weakened body. In seconds, he could stand again and was flexing his muscles, a strange light coming into his garnet eyes, making them glow like twin flames.

The Flying Shadow smirked and flitted into the kitchen, starting the coffeemaker and reposing in one of the stiff-backed wooden chairs. The smirk hovered around his features, refusing to dissipate and Hiei couldn't seem to school his countenance, not really knowing why. When the coffeemaker had stopped gurgling and sloshing brown substance into the pot, Hiei snatched a mug full and downed it, flickering into the Training Room, where he unsheathed his katana and began his normal morning routine, or what could have been called normal for that particular week.

Still, though, a strange sensation had flooded his limbs along with the energy that his rage always gave him. It was a tingling, dancing feeling and for some reason, it was also a tense feeling, like the sensation that had been building in his body from the start of this week. It was disorienting and even as quickly as he had begun to gather his thoughts and energy, he could feel it starting to slip away and he desperately tried to retrieve it, feeling as it sifted through his subconscious like sand through his fingers.

Hiei slipped smoothly onto the matted floor, his cheek making a thud as it hit the warmed material. He could feel the coarse threads of the synthetic fibers making up the mats rubbing on the skin of his face and bare chest. He attempted to move but could not even twitch a finger. This was not only irritating, but again, infuriating. This time around though, he couldn't focus his fury into energy like he had taught himself to do so many years into his childhood. That, in itself, was even more frustrating. He let out a vicious snarl and found that that was about the only thing that he could do.

Hiei, being frustrated, and not entirely in his right mind, decided to vent his peevishness in the only way he knew how: he roared. Not like a lion, mind you, just an extremely loud shout. Since his dementia had no doubt increased by this time, he failed to recall that Botan was still slumbering peacefully. Well, at this point she was neither slumbering nor peaceful. At this point she was flying toward the open door of the Training Room as if her feet were adorned with wings.

Upon her arrival, Botan discovered the sight of something that was not only strange but also slightly amusing. There, on the matted floor, laid an incapacitated Hiei. Botan didn't really understand how it had come to be that he had landed in the form of his legs crumpled beneath him at a very odd and uncomfortable-looking position. His face was very red and his eyes were moving, but that (besides breathing) seemed to be the only thing that he could move. Botan (very wisely) stifled a chuckle.

Hiei, seeing Botan standing above him in her ridiculous fuchsia pajamas, endeavored to produce what was known to most as "speech". It came out sounding like this: "O-a, o a-ay! I a o i…"

Botan lifted an eyebrow and translated in her mind. It came out as this: "Onna, go away! I can do this…" Botan rolled her eyes and smiled. "Hiei, I think that you might need some help."

Since Hiei was having trouble shifting his eyebrows so that he could glare properly, he just fell silent. There was no sense in trying if he couldn't move. He sighed and Botan took his silence and the exhalation as a sign that she had permission to take him into a more comfortable place.

Bending carefully, Botan tucked a few cerulean strands behind her ears to keep out of her eyes. First, she grabbed Hiei's legs, surprised at how firm the muscles were (she disregarded it, knowing that she would have time to contemplate it later), and dragged his body straight. Then, she flipped him onto his back and closed his open mouth with another stifled giggle. She could almost feel the daggers in the nonexistent glare being shot at her.

Then, Botan slipped her one arm under his shoulders, looping it in his armpits, which were thankfully not sweaty yet, and another under his knees. He was as heavy as she would have imagined with all of his muscle, but still far lighter than a normal warrior because of his stamina. He was a difficult load and Botan had to tread carefully in order to get him to the couch—where she intended to lay him—without stumbling and dropping him. She had to support his head on her shoulder because it kept lolling and his spiky locks tickled her chin deliciously.

When she had finally reached the couch and laid Hiei down, Botan collapsed next to him, wiping her brow and dragging him so that his head was resting in her lap. He blinked at her and she looked to where his eyes had just flitted and were now settled. His hand. His pinky finger was wiggling back and forth rhythmically. She grinned at him and turned her smile to 100-watts. This was going to be a long process and Botan was still tired, considering that it was still around five in the morning, Hiei being that early riser that he was.

Botan settled back into the couch and fell asleep with a lapful of Hiei.

-8-

Hiei, however, as Botan caught forty winks, had time to brood the situation. This was definitely the mating season. He didn't know why he was in this state, but something was niggling at the back of his head. Or rather, the front. Or rather, in his forehead, in his Jagan. Hiei found that he could feel his Jagan functioning and for some reason it felt as though it was absorbing his energy from his body and focusing it in the center of the psychic eye.

Again there was a niggling only this time, it was really his mind. He remembered a flash of something that had been rumored to him by other psychics. They had said that in the time where the body was choosing a mate, the source of all psychic energy would store amounts of physical energy that was unneeded a few hours before the peak of the season. He had remembered feeling weak before at the end of the mating season every four years, but never anything drastic. This must have been another side affect of the full moon occurring during the week.

Well, this was just great. Now he would have even more power with which to possibly rape the onna. Wait, why did he even care? It was probably because Reikai jail would be imminent after that particular event. That and the fact that doing anything of a sexual nature with someone who had once been a ningen, of all things, was despicable. It was odd though, how, even as he thought that, his mind brought up several very colorful, very vivid, images that featured he and Botan participating in some type of sexual activity together, that he didn't get a bad taste in his mouth or get the urge to cleanse himself thoroughly. Actually, he felt…no, no, no, no, no, no, NO! This was not anything he should be feeling. Hiei quickly banished those thoughts. Of course, the heat pooling in his lower extremities indicated that he felt otherwise about the situation.

It had to be a side-affect of the mating season. HAD TO. No other explanation for it. With that, Hiei began to try and wriggle his hands again, only managing to move a pinky.

-8-

Botan opened her eyes and looked down to where the shifting that had awakened her was occurring. The stirring was Hiei, moving his arm from the elbow down ever so slightly. She flashed him another grin and he scowled, successfully moving his facial muscles this time.

Hiei felt numb, and his limbs were tingling, each one only having the ability to move a fraction. This was so hindering that he almost wanted to scream again, but he refrained, knowing that Botan wouldn't find it so amusing a second time. His head was clearing slowly; as if a light breeze were steadily stirring a fog and he could feel his strength returning with more vigor than before.

Two Hours Later, Around Three o'clock in the Afternoon

Botan was sipping a mug of coffee and letting her hair air-dry as she combed her fingers through it at the kitchen table when her ears caught the sound of a muffled thump. Sighing, she set down her cup and flounced into the living room, where Hiei was lying face down in the carpet, a low growl emanating from his body. She did not stifle her giggle this time as she realized that he had been struggling to move and had wriggled his way off of the side of the couch. He turned and snarled in her direction when he realized that she was the source of the jovial noise that was disrupting his black mood. She laughed again and dragged him back onto the couch.

Ten o'clock in the Evening

Botan shut off the tai-bo tape and stepped into the living room again to find Hiei sitting upright on the couch, seeming to have his strength back in full. She grinned. "Hiei, up and at 'em! Feeling any better?"

His head rose slowly and Botan could feel her stomach sink as foreboding weighed it down…his eyes were clouded, smoldering like hot coals. She gulped.

His voice was thick and laden with desire as he said, "Onna…can't control…much longer…lock yourself in the…kitchen."

Botan's eyes widened and she shook her head slowly in obstinate refusal.

"Now!" He bit through clenched teeth, his fangs glistening. Botan squeaked and skittered into the kitchen, slamming and locking the door behind her, her chest heaving as she panted.

Behind the kitchen door, Botan could hear labored breathing and the sound of shredding cloth. She wondered what would happen if Hiei hurt himself somehow. Would he hurt himself?

Botan felt a little guilty about leaving him to handle the mating season at its peak, when it was the most difficult, alone, but she felt at that moment that there was nothing to be done. At least, that was what the sensible side of her insisted. However, that's not what the side that promoted loyalty to her friends was telling her. It was telling her to get out there and do what was right for Hiei.

Botan, dismayed, curled into a ball against the closed door, listening to the sounds of Hiei in tormenting anguish. Her mind was raging a battle with her soul and she was being ripped apart at the seams. All of this was simply too much for her…too much…

Then, her mind brought up the fact that she would have to do…that…with Hiei! She expected herself to shudder, and she did, but found that it was not a bad shudder…but more like…

Unbidden, images of Hiei popped in front of her eyes. There was Hiei, lying in the large bed with no shirt, his chiseled pale chest exposed and moving up and down, up and down. There was Hiei, his hair sodden and his cloak clinging to him in all the right places as he stared at her through water-soaked bangs. There was Hiei, the feel of his body pressed against her as she rubbed his shoulders, vibrations running through his torso and passing to hers. And Hiei…kissing her…his lips soft, heated, pliable…

Okay, so maybe mating with Hiei wouldn't be too much of an unpleasant experience. But still, her mind told her forcefully that she would be bound for life to him and that there was no way out of it. And Hiei was surly and grouchy and didn't want to call her by her real name…

But, her heart insisted, he's still your friend and he would do the same for you.

Would he? her mind questioned. Would he do the same?

Who cares? her heart exclaimed. He deserves to be helped! Who has ever cared enough for him to do anything? How would you feel if…no one helped you…if no one loved you?

That was when, suddenly, Botan remembered the lost soul of the girl, her eyes sad and woeful, informing Botan of the truth that, she had never ever had anything to love and making Botan think that she was correct…never ever…

And with that, her mind was made up. Botan unlocked the door to the kitchen and stepped into the living room, right as she heard a cry of anguish from Hiei.

The sight that she was met with was beautiful, heart-stopping.

Hiei stood, his hair grown into two different raven points and his skin green (the shredding noise had been his cloak being torn off, therefore allowing his skin to be viewed), his fangs elongated, his claws extended into vicious points, his skin green, mapped with many copies of the Jagan. His aura pulsated and resonated, making him glow surreally. Still, even in the state as he was, his hideous demon form, Botan's heart reached for him and in her heart…she believed that he was beautiful.

Hiei advanced on her and Botan tensed, waiting for him to grab her, to be brutal and violent like some sort of animal. She clenched her eyes shut and waited for the first blow, completely ready and not feeling any regret. Thus, she was surprised extremely when there was a gentle touch upon her arm and a pleasantly heated body pressed against hers, his aura pleasing, enticing.

She looked into twin ruby flames that she half-consciously recognized as eyes and suddenly felt soft lips press upon her own, hungry, alluring, burning pleasurably. She sighed into Hiei's mouth and he took that opportunity to slip his tongue between her lips and explore her mouth, caressing every firmly.

Botan could feel her arousal growing and was still half-surprised even though she knew that she was attracted to Hiei. When her eyes reopened, the blue-haired deity could see that Hiei was reverting back to his humanoid form. His crimson eyes bored into hers and he spoke in a husky voice.

"I thought I told you to stay away from me."

Botan broke into a soft smile. "What made you think that I would listen?"

His brow furrowed. "You don't want this, Onna…not me…"

Botan, surprisingly, scowled at him. "You're not talking me out of it. I…do want you…that's the strange part and unless you find me repulsive, then I'm not leaving."

The shock—and Botan could swear she saw happiness—in his eyes was something Botan had never seen before. "You are not…repulsive." She knew it had taken him a lot to say that. Was that almost a compliment? "But I am the Forbidden Child. What would you want with me?" Botan scowled again.

"I don't care about your people's stupid prophecies for you. They can shove them somewhere appropriate!" Hiei's eyes widened and regained their smoky texture as he smirked slyly.

"Your attitude is very attractive to me, Onna. No…more…talking…" Botan didn't have time to continue though, as Hiei suddenly began softly kissing her neck, teasing her sensitive skin with a combination of teeth, lips, and tongue. She moaned lightly and blushed when she heard him growl in appreciation. She also blushed because she could feel him smirk against her skin. He was definitely still Hiei.

The fire koorime began to suck at one particular spot that had always been pleasure to Botan: the junction between her neck and shoulders. Hiei led her to the bed and settled her onto it, resting his weight on his elbows as he cleaned at that particular spot. Botan let out another moan that quickly turned into a cry of pain as she felt sharp fangs bury themselves in her skin.

Hiei licked at the coppery substance pouring from her wound and growled in pleasure, the metallic taste of the deity's blood lingering in his mouth even as the bleeding stopped.

"What…" Botan gasped as the pain turned into a delicious tingling sensation. "Did you just…do?"

Hiei smirked again. "I just marked you as mine now, Onna."

Botan frowned through the waves of ecstasy flowing from the point of the wound. "So now I'm just some kind of property to you?"

Hiei continued to smirk, kissing her heatedly once more before answering with, "Mark me as yours, Onna."

Botan stared at him for a long moment before placing her teeth on his shoulder, determined to break skin on her first try. Hiei did not even wince as she plunged her blunt, omnivorous teeth into his flesh and Botan licked away at what little blood he produced.

Botan could feel Hiei's arousal radiating from his aura and he looked her in the eyes once more before plunging into another kiss. His voice gruff, he growled, "I can't resist taking you now, Botan." And Botan realized that not only had he called her by her name, but also whatever misgivings she had now were too late. So, Botan looked at him and kissed him again, her tongue clashing with his. From that point on, everything was bliss, a flash of blinding ecstasy as their names were cried by each other into the darkened room and into their shoulders.

When, finally, Hiei and Botan collapsed into each other's arms, sleep came almost instantly.

-8-

Botan woke and stretched, feeling the bare flesh of another rub against her own and she remembered the last night and with it came soreness, but she welcomed it. Then, she turned to look into the eyes of her mate and saw that he was awake and gazing at her blankly. He smirked and Botan knew that whatever came along, it was going to be a wild ride.

She smiled at him cheerily, to which he rolled his eyes, to which she did not take personally and said, "I wonder how Kurama's been keeping himself occupied this whole time?"

And that, my friends, is another story, indeed.