I didn't get much ideas, so I'm making this up as I go along! This one's a long chapter so don't worry. Enjoy, I hope I didn't kill the story for you!

Disclaimer : I Do Not Own Yu Yu Hakusho

Every Rose Has It's Thorns

Chapter Three : Infectious Sadness

Botan's POV

Foolish! I was foolish to think I saw safe to muse here. Foolish to think I could slip up and go unnoticed. Especially since Hiei was here. Hiei sometimes gave me the feeling that he knew about my little masquerade. I could only utter these words: "You saw... didn't you?"

"..." He looked away, uncaring, boiling the rage already within me. The only thing he seemed to care about was the fact he was caught.

"Answer me!" I began to show my truer colors.

"Hn. What if I did!" I softened a bit, remembering it was Hiei I was talking to. He now had the power, and I knew my place.

"Please," I couldn't let anyone know. "Please don't tell anyone." I felt sick, begging like a pitiful dog.

"Why? Why would you bother to hide yourself, onna?" I reluctantly answered.

"Because it seemed people liked the happy Botan." Ayame's words buzzed in my head. 'That's the ferry girl we know and love.' The truth was they didn't know me, so would still they love me? My thoughts seemed to sadden me more. "So please, don't tell anyone."

Hiei's POV

Here she was, the true ferry girl. My interests grew slightly. I never expected her to be like this. In this light, she seemed calm, peaceful, almost. Yet her amethyst irises flared with strong ferociousness. I liked this side of her, I wanted to know more.

"Hn. I don't follow orders from anyone. If I don't feel like telling anyone, then I won't." She took a distressed looked, no doubt her disguised slipped off again. I expected her to cry and run to her room. What I didn't expect was for her to stand there, giving me glares that almost put mine to shame. I could tell she was holding her wrath, further peaking my attraction to the new onna before me. I smirked. "So this is the real Deity of Death. It's true I have seen terrible things, but you..." I cupped her chin, forcing her to look at me. Her eyes were wide, indicating she was reminiscing of her shrouded past. Her orbs looked like thin orchid crystals, threating to shatter at moment. "Your eyes tell me you've seen worse..." She soon began to scowl, telling me I hit a prominent cord. Her voice filled with bitter disgust.

"Don't expect me to tell you what they are," Her harshness took me by surprise. "They're so repulsive," She ripped herself from my grip. "I don't even think they should be repeated in words." I grinned. Indeed this side of the onna was very interesting.

"Hn." She turned her face away. "Your pathetic." I, myself turned away, preparing to leave, I finished my game for today.

"If I'm pathetic, what are you?" I paused and turned around, growling.

"What?" My eyes dangerously, shaded a deep, mincing, blood red.

"You hid from Yukina, in shame, stalking her to insure her safety. You think life needs a purpose, but the true purpose of life is to live through it. People who commit suicide are quitters. Quitters who were too weak to face reality. They make me sick.. And..." Her eyes were burning with her fiery wrath, her smirk challenging my patience. I was doing my best not to decapitate her head. To my surprise, she added to my vexation. "And you're worse than them..." That smug look on her face was begging to be wiped away.

"Onna... I suggest you don't question my motives." I growled at her. "Cause when you play with fire," My katana's icy blade pressed against her neck faster than the eye could see. "you get burned." She stood her ground, her eyes still kindling.

"I'm not afraid of a little pain."

Botan's POV

I smirked at him as he continued to growled and glared at me.

"Onn-"

"Oni-san... Ah! Botan-chan I thought you were going to bed?" The second Yukina's voice was audible, his katana was back in it's sheath.

"I was, but kinda got lost. Hiei was showing me to my room." Hiei was surprised to see me change so quickly. I've had years of experience. "Isn't that right, Hiei?" I smiled at him like cheery Botan would.

"Hn."

"That was very nice of you Onii-san." Yukina sweetly smiled toward him. "Well dinner will be ready soon." She went on her way and I went on mine, leaving Hiei alone in the dark halls. The night breeze blew softly, soothing me. Maybe I could use a break... A break from myself.

Normal POV

Hiei stared at the ceiling, restless, much to his dismay. He walked out his door and traveled around the shadowed temple. He rounded the corner and spotted Botan sitting on the porch. She wore only a long, purple dress shirt the stop at mid thigh and short-shorts. Her cerulean hair poured over her shoulders and her eyes a still lavender. She swung her bare legs in the air, looking only to the night sky. She spoke without turning to him.

"The night sky sure is pretty, ne?" Her voice a bit dreamy, aloof. Hiei didn't respond in words, only nodded once. "The boundless area, so limited, yet so vast. It's an amazing thing really..." Silently, he sat next to her, each of them silent. For the first time that night, they made eye contact, allowing their eyes to communicate in the lieu of words.

"I don't understand-" Hiei finally spoke out. Botan gave a rueful grin and, as if reading his mind, she answered.

"No one can fully understand death." She said plainly, continuing to swing her thin limbs in the air.

"Not even death herself?" He inquired, slightly curious as to what her answer would be.

"..." She looked down to the floor, her irises empty of life and brilliance. Her somber smile panged a type of sentiment within him. It was a feeling that confused him beyond reason. "No... Not even death herself..." Botan's eyes seemed to cry without shedding any tears. Hiei felt the strong urge to give her solace, but fought the odd drive.

Botan's POV

Hiei's eyes seemed so familiar. Those deep pools of color bore into my very soul. They said so much, yet showed so little. It wasn't the mincing hue of the irises, it was the aura of them. They indicated trouble and hardship. How did I know? Well, it's within me and... and her as well.

Hiei's POV

I watched her stare into nothingness. Her face blank and her legs still. Shortly after daydreaming, she glanced up, looking into my eyes once more.

"What?" She didn't answer, her hand moved slowly to my cheek. Her finger tips softly grazed the flesh in one motion. I grabbed her wrist. "Onna." My voice snapped her back to reality. I noticed her orbs flash a light, crystal violet before returning to a lost orchid hue. She pulled her arm away quickly, looking as if I burned her.

"..." She stood and walked away to her room, sliding the door without a word. Her actions only puzzled me more.

Normal POV

Botan held back her the tears forming in her eyes. She collapsed onto the bed and shut her eyes...

"..bo...tan...Botan." A woman pet a small cerulean haired girl. "Such a good girl, Botan." She smiled and continued to pet her. A man soon joined her, cooing the little girl's name. Botan began to remember, the thing that complete messed with her mind. The one thing that was probably responsible for her real personality. Footsteps were heard, approaching the group. Another young girl walked in, not much older than the small Botan. Young Botan saw the other girl coming and smiled widely. She tore herself from the woman and man, and headed toward the incoming female, obviously thrilled to see her. The young lady came closer in view, showing some of her features. Her hair was a silky midnight blue, and her eyes a piercing amethyst. She walked through Botan's transparent spirit.

"Ren (1)..."

(1) Ren means water lily.

Yeah, I'll just tell you Botan's human's past. And then maybe I'll end it. I'm still open to idea's people! Oh, don't forget to review!