A Brother's Love : Guardian Angel
A/N: Thank you for your patience. Thank you all reviewers! (Bows). Yes, didn't I say that the party chapter wasn't going to be ordinary? . Told ya so. Okay, enough gloating. This chapter. Romance might begin. Might. Highly doubt it, but might. Keep reviewing.
Botan wasn't sure why she asked if Hiei was there. I mean, there was no way in the three worlds he would be there. Right?
Hiei froze when he heard her speak his name. How could she have known? He didn't make a sound. The only noise was the two halves of the demon falling to the ground. Then he saw her reach out to where he stood. She stepped forward cautiously, her white dress dragging on the ground.
"Are you there?"
Her fingers were inches away from his face. Hiei had no expression, but he was torn. He could move, and then give away his position, or he could stay. He chose the latter option. Her fingers were centimeters away from his cheek.
"Botan!"
Hiei watched as the ferry onna instantly withdrew her hand. She looked over her shoulder.
"Yusuke? Is that you?"
Hiei vanished into a nearby tree. He saw Yusuke run up to the ferry girl. Hiei was surprised to see Kurama, Kurama's onna, the annoying girl who slapped Yusuke a lot, Yukina, and to his distaste, Kuwabara following the ex-detective.
"Sorry, Botan, I forgot that there were demons in these woods."
Hiei rolled his eyes at the baka detective. Sometimes that half demon disappointed him. Hiei watched them remove the onna's white blindfold. Kurama looked concerned for the onna's safety. That was when the fox noticed the deceased demon.
"Who did this?"
Botan then saw the demon. She gasped and almost fainted. Hiei saw her start to wobble but the fox grasped her shoulders. She took a shaky breath.
"I don't know. I couldn't see, obviously, but at first I thought it was Hiei. But... it couldn't have been."
Hiei smirked. Yeah, that's right. He would never do such thing. Ever. It was perfect. Then he saw the fox look in his direction while everyone else was tending to the onna. Hiei glared. Damn that fox.
So, I take it you did save Botan. Kurama's smug voice made its way into Hiei's mind.
Hn. Why would I save the onna? Just ask yourself that, fox.
Hiei was rewarded with silence. He crossed his arms across his chest. Serves that nosy fox right. I hope that crushed his ego into –
I don't have to ask myself why. That doesn't prove your innocence.
Fox, I'm warning you–
Hiei was interrupted by loud laughter. His blood red eyes narrowed as he saw the fox chuckling noisily. He had to put his hands on his knees in order to steady himself. Hiei growled, knowing that no one would be able to hear him.
The entire team was giving Kurama concerned glances. Yusuke was getting a kick at the fox acting so out of character. Kurama wiped his eyes and smiled at Botan, who was still shaken from the dead demon.
"Well, Botan, it looks like you've got a guardian angel."
Kurama tried to keep a straight face, honest. But... he failed. Miserably. He burst out laughing again. Yusuke caught on, to Hiei's dismay, and joined the stupid fox in his mirth. Yukina started to heal Botan from some bruises. Shizuru and Keiko just stood there, not sure whether to worry about Botan or Kurama and Yusuke.
Soon, the party dispersed. Yusuke was carrying Keiko on his back and Kurama and Shizuru were walking hand in hand. Kuwabara had to pried off of Yukina with a crowbar. Seriously. Botan almost chased off the love struck baka with her oar.
"Whew! What a party!"
Yukina collapsed onto the mat. Botan smiled softly as the ice demon instantly fell asleep. Being the caring ferry girl that she was, Botan pulled the covers up so that they were covering the ice maiden. Unlike Yukina, Botan was restless. The rush of adrenalin hadn't worn off yet. So, Botan stepped out of Yukina's room.
"Hello, Botan. What's keeping you up?"
Genkai appeared out of the shadows, holding two full tea cups. Botan took one graciously and sipped it before answering. She licked her lips.
"I don't know. I guess I'm just not tired."
Genkai nodded. The two women stood in silence.
"You know what's strange, Botan?" Botan looked at the old woman, shaking her head, saying 'no' silently. "You aren't love-struck like everyone else. Yusuke has Keiko, Kurama may not admit it, but him and Shizuru definitely have a thing. And then there's Yukina and Kuwabara."
Botan sighed and took a sip of the hot tea. It warmed and burned her throat at the same time. She had been contemplating the whole love thing for a long time.
"It's normal, Genkai. The people who are alive fall in love. I am Death." Botan made a cat face at the aged woman. "Who in their right mind would fall in love with Death?"
Genkai was not a fool. She could hear a certain angst and sorrow in the ferry girl. It was... unnerving. She had always known Botan to be the girl with a sunny disposition. Well, everyone had to be serious once and a while, even Yusuke.
"Everyone deserves love, Botan. Even Death herself."
Botan turned to face Genkai, but found that she was gone. Botan frowned, but then recovered from the shock. The ferry girl turned and headed to the front of the temple. She opened the doors and sat on the stone steps, now in a thinking mood.
Botan gazed up into the starry night sky. Then, in a rush of movement, Botan summoned her oar and sped off into the sky, her hair becoming undone.
The feeling of the wind was beyond description. It was like a drug that Botan had gotten addicted to. She couldn't stop. She soared up into the clouds as she chanted to herself. Higher...higher... Botan danced across the sky erratically. She was free. There were no worries in the sky. Only the stars were her witness.
Unknown to Botan, she was wrong. Hiei was watching her intently. He had been pondering what Kurama had called him. A guardian angel. The irony was so apparent it was almost sickening. He was distracted by the whoosh of air above him.
The baka ferry onna was flying. Rather excitedly too. In one moment she was skimming the treetops and in another she was soaring among the clouds, a pink blot in the sky. Hiei's crimson eyes narrowed. Why does the onna like to fly so much? Hn. Whatever. Like he cared anyway. Then, she stopped. Botan came to an abrupt halt, her blue hair flying all around her face at the sudden stop of motion. She gazed up at the stars and moon. Maybe, just maybe someone is out there to love me. Someone who isn't afraid of Death. At the last thought, Botan laughed softly. Like anyone would be afraid of her. She sighed and turned so she was flying upside down, back towards the temple. Hiei was slightly interested in the onna now. She stared up into the sky like her executioner was waiting there. He smirked. If that was true, than she would be looking directly at him. Baka. Then he heard a sound. It startled him, to say the least. Now, don't get Hiei wrong, he had heard a lot of sighs in his lifetime, but never one from the ferry onna. His head shot up to the sky, but only to find that she was already flying back to the temple. Botan crawled under the covers with Yukina. Her eye lids were feeling very heavy. Slowly, Botan feel asleep. Her night was dreamless, but the entire time, she felt as if someone was watching her. Hiei flitted to his sister's window, which was open. He sat on the sill, taking comfort in knowing that she was safe. Then his blood shaded eyes traveled to the deity sleeping next to her. She shiftedand snuggled into the pillow, some of the blankets falling off of her. That was when she started to shiver.
Baka onna. Only she can pull off idiocy in her sleep. Hiei watched her trembling and then gave a sigh of annoyance and defeat. Looking around to make sure that no one, I repeat, not a soul around, would witness what he was about to do. Satisfied, Hiei moved off the window sill silently and was instantly at the onna's side.
Why am I even doing this? She's a baka. Hiei reasoned, but his one hand went to the blankets, pulling them up to her shoulders. The ferry onna stopped trembling and rolled over once more. She was almost touching him. Hiei didn't move, just in case she was a light sleeper. She frowned in her unconscious state, like she was worried even in her dreams. Hiei smirked at that. Baka.
Then he moved so he was standing in the shadows of the room. If the two girls woke up now, he would be hidden. His eyes moved to his sister. Yukina. His eyes softened. She was an angel. He hoped that she was happy here. He averted his eyes, feeling unworthy of even gazing at his sister. He quickly vanished and in an instant, Hiei, Master of the Jagan, was gone.
Botan was the first to wake up. She yawned, stretching like a cat. She combed her long hair and walked out to the bathroom. She wanted to take a shower. Botan massaged her scalp with shampoo and let the hot steam cleanse her pours. She stepped out, towel-clad. Yukina just opened the door to see Death in a towel.
"Good morning, Botan."
Yukina bowed, her cheeks turning red. Botan wasn't exactly comfortable about the situation herself either.
"I'm sorry, Yukina."
Yukina smiled, looking up into Botan's pink eyes.
"It's okay. I wanted to take a shower too..."
Botan nodded and quickly hurried into Yukina's bedroom. She felt like a baka. She was embarrassed. She was not used to people seeing her in such a state. Botan sighed, her cheeks cooling down.
Soon, Botan was clothed, her hair tied up. She was wearing a long skirt and a comfortable tank top. Botan sighed as she leaned against the wall. Life, well, her existence, is good. Yukina came in, having been a wise demon and brought her clothes with her into the bathroom. She smiled at Botan, and the ferry girl was content. She had a wonderful friend and it was her vacation. There was no way in the three worlds that anything could go wrong.
After a simple breakfast, the two friends went outside, exploring. In the middle of a game of I Spy, Yukina asked the question that Botan had been dreading. She had prayed to Enma every night, asking him to spare her of this torture.
"Botan, do you think I'll ever find my brother?"
Botan had been walking. She stopped and looked the ice demon in the eyes. She saw the torment, the feeling of loneliness. Her hopes disappearing slowly. Botan hugged the shy ice maiden. Yukina was hesitant, but she returned the gesture.
"I think that you will. In fact, I think your brother is looking for you at this very moment."
Botan sniffed, fighting the growing tears. It was so hard to breathe. That was when she felt Yukina's shoulders stiffen. Botan released the demon, about to apologize when she saw tear gems slipping out of the ice maiden's beautiful eyes.
"Yukina, don't cry. I'm sorry, I didn't mean for you to–"
Yukina sniffed and wiped her eyes, trying to catch the priceless jewels in her hands.
"It's okay, Botan. I'm just... so... happy that you think that. It's been so long, and I was wondering if Hiei ever found him. Or if he even looked for him at all."
Yukina looked troubled and started to cry again. Not childishly or hysterical. Just a few tears. Botan bit her lip. She hated to see people in pain. Especially her friends.
"Yukina, I'm sure Hiei is, right at this moment! Come on, smile. There's no need for tears. Hiei is the fastest of the Rekai Tentei. He's bound to find your brother sooner or later!"
Yukina looked up into Botan's eyes. It tore Botan's heart into little, tiny pieces. It wasn't fair. Botan was never a good liar, and she absolutely despised to lie to her friends. And this wasn't just a friend. This was Yukina.
"You really think so?"
"I know so."
Yukina gave Botan a beaming smile. Botan decided to change the subject. She couldn't wouldn't be able to lie much longer if they stayed on the topic of Yukina's brother.
"Want to ride on my oar? It's fun, and it'll cheer you up."
Yukina looked apprehensive as Botan reached into the sky and pulled her oar seemingly out of thin air. Then, Yukina looked to the bright blue sky. Then she nodded, a smile wriggling onto her face. Botan grinned and grabbed the ice maiden's hand.
"Okay, now, I recommend that you put your arms around me, but some people are better with just hanging onto the oar."
Yukina followed Botan's advice and wrapped her arms around her as she sat on the oar. Botan smiled and took a deep breath.
"Okay, here we go!"
Botan took off slower than she usually did, but that was for Yukina's sake. She felt the ice demon's arms tighten, but then go back to their normal grip. Botan looked down at the ice maiden.
"Yukina, do you want to go faster?"
Yukina looked up at Botan. Slowly, she nodded. Botan felt her heart pound with the knowledge of the upcoming flight. Oh how she enjoyed the wind.
"Hang on tight!"
Botan gripped the oar tightly and took off, going at top speed. She rolled, did flips, and to her relief, Yukina was laughing giddily.
Hiei was sleeping when he heard laughter. He knew that sound by heart. It was his sister. The funny thing was, he heard it above him. Looking up, his black hair blowing in the slight breeze, Hiei saw the ferry onna soaring through the sky, dipping into the clouds. His sister was cheering and letting out sounds of delight. The Koorime's expression was calm, like he had found a momentary peace. Momentary, key word.
That was when Hiei felt it. A fairly strong demonic aura. His eyes narrowed. He could beat them easily. He fissured in and out of sight, and his heart sunk when he found out where they were headed. To the ferry onna and his beloved sister.
Botan screamed as she saw a large demon who blocked her path. She stopped instantly, having to catch Yukina. She glared at the demon.
"Leave us alone! Go awa–!"
Botan was cut off as the demon grabbed her and vanished. Yukina's eyes were wide and her breathing was coming in short gasps. She blinked, and soon Botan's oar vanished. Yukina didn't even realize or care at the time that she was falling. She screamed, tear gems leaking out of her eyes and falling into the wind.
"BOTAN!"
Hiei heard his sister scream the onna's name and he rushed to her, catching her in midair. Judging by her lack of reaction, Yukina didn't even care, or notice, that she was saved. Hiei set her on the ground, his face devoid of all emotions.
"Yukina, what happened? Where's the ferry onna?"
Yukina looked at him, crying. She hiccupped and sank to her knees. Hiei, not really that great with the whole comforting thing, knelt down on one knee and put two hands on her shoulders. His eyes were soft and gentle.
"Yukina, just tell me what happened."
"D-demons took Botan away." She wailed, tear gems pouring out of her. "She-we were riding on her oar, and then, they-they just came." Hiei felt rage shooting through his veins. Those demons were going to pay for making his sister cry. "Hiei? Will you save her?"
Hiei looked into his sister's loving eyes. She was gaining control of herself. The ice maiden looked up at the silent demon. He stood and looked toward the sky. He'd be able to track them.
"I'll get the onna back."
Yukina blinked and was about to bow and thank him, but he was already gone. She looked off into the woods. She closed her eyes. Botan, just hang on. Hiei is coming. He'll save you. Hiei can do anything.
A/N: Twist! Twist twist twist! Sorry. Just getting a little ahead of myself. Anyways, how did you like it? Good? Bad? Ugly? Broccoli? Tell me, I would love to know! (Hint: that means review!)