A Brother's Love : It Just Happened
A/N: Thank you for reviewing! I'm racking my brain to think of an ending... ROAR! darn... still nothing. Please keep reading and reviewing, you know I love it when you do! (Bribes you with brownie.)
I
It was Botan's last day at Genkai's temple. She was actually very solemn. Yukina and her had a great time together... but... something was nagging at her. That was when it hit her. Hiei still hasn't told Yukina that he's her brother! Botan pouted, saying goodbye to Yukina and walking aimlessly through Genkai's forest. He doesn't realize how much pain he is putting her through.
Just before Botan left, she remembered Yukina hugging her. Botan... When Hiei finds my brother, I want you to be there. I want you to stand by my side when we find him. Wouldn't that be something, Botan? The ferry girl sighed. Yes. I would be something alright, if only Hiei got his rear in gear and quit being such a baka and told her that he was her brother.
II
Hiei watched Botan... the ferry onna walk through the forest. She looked nostalgic. And he hated her for it. Loathed her. Why? Because I can't get the baka out of my mind! Hiei practically screamed in his own head. Every time he lost focus or closed his eyes to sleephe would see her face. He saw her smiling at him, beaten almost to death, and then crying.
To say the least, Hiei was... shaken. He never really thought about anyone other than his sister. Why was the baka ferry onna haunting his thoughts? It just didn't make sense!
A demon got to close to her. The baka didn't even notice. Hiei unsheathed his katana and killed it before it was within twenty feet of her. Then, realizing what he had just done, he growled. DAMN IT! I DID IT AGAIN!
III
Botan heard something drop near her. She instantly felt her heart rate jump and she summoned her oar. She held it in front of her like a sword, waiting for anything. Everything.
Then the rustling moved. Another thud. Then it moved again. Botan felt her legs start to shake. Then it was barely three feet away, in the bushes. Letting out a battle cry, Botan raised the oar and brought it down, a satisfying WACK echoing through the woods.
"God damn..."
Botan heard a low, guttural voice emerge from the vegetation. Botan instantly felt her heart stop, catch its breath, and scream in terror. Botan squeezed her eyes shut. She knew that voice anywhere. Its deep, enticing vibration. Only one person would own it. Hiei.
IV
Hiei was flitting around, killing anything that got to close to the onna. Of course, while he was doing said act, he was arguing with himself. She doesn't concern me! The only reason I'm doing this is because of Yukina. She saved Yukina and she is a good friend of my sister. That is why I'm helping her. It has to be.
Hiei let out a soft growl as another demon appeared even closer to the onna. He felt like he was lying to himself. He wasn't. I don't do lying. He slit the throat of a demon as his frustrated thoughts got to him. Then, he felt wood crack down on his cranium. What the–?
"God damn..."
Caught off guard, Hiei actually blinked. Then he stood, wondering who would dare touch him. Let alone try and attack him. As he turned, he felt whoever it was tense. Fear radiated off of them. He felt a smirk grace his features.
But it slid right off when he saw the baka onna. She was holding her oar in one hand weakly. Her eye were closed tightly. He took a step toward her. She jumped and brought her oar closer to her, her shoulders rising up to her ears.
"Onna, open your eyes."
V
Botan heard him speak. She opened one eye, peeking at the Koorime. He was... unnerving. He had that effect on her. His ability of telepathy didn't help. Neither one of them said anything for a good while. It wasn't awkward. Well, okay fine, half of it was. What do I mean by half? Botan was fretting, wanting to know what the fire demon was thinking, while Hiei, used to years of silence, could have cared less.
"Sorry, I'm so sorry! I thought you were a demon."
Botan bowed, still trembling slightly.
"Baka, I am a demon."
Botan flushed. Right. Okay Botan, get yourself together. You can do this. Survive this. Botan rose her head so she was looking into Hiei's eyes. His frown deepened. Botan grasped the tips of the pink sleeves of her kimono. She failed to notice the demon blood on his sword.
"Thanks again."
She held out her hand. The Koorime looked at it like it was a death threat. He narrowed his blood red eyes at the ferry girl. She bit her lip, and then realized that Hiei probably had no idea what she was doing. Heck, he probably had never seen a handshake.
"It's called a handshake. You shake my hand."
Hiei blinked. For a moment, Botan swore he looked like a small child. Curious and unsure of his own actions. But that soon disappeared with his emotion mask of steel. He made no move to react, so Botan took matters into her own hands.
"Here, hold out your hand." Hiei hesitated, but to Botan's astonishment, he obeyed. "Good, it's like this."
Botan gently took his hand into hers, making sure not to grasp it to tightly, and shook it lightly. It took two shakes for Hiei to realize that he was letting a nigen spirit touching him. He bristled like a cat and tore his hand away from her.
VI
Hiei watched as the onna's face fell when he pulled his hand away. Her pink eyes widened, but the returned to normal. Her smile wasn't strained... but it wasn't genuine. Like when he had saved her. He liked that smile... What the fuck is wrong with me!
It startled him. When she touched him, he didn't react right away. She distracted him. By her touch, how she treated him like he was porcelain, delicate and precious.The feel of her smooth, warm skin against his calloused hands. And lastly, her eyes. So pure... caring, like Yukina's.
That was when he realized just he was thinking. The disgust coiled in his stomach. So now he was looking into her sad eyes. A part of him was relieved that she was no longer having an effect on him. The other part... well he wasn't that good with emotions, but it hurt his heart again. It was like he wanted to apologize. Fat chance. Like that's ever going to happen.
VII
Hiei watched the baka ferry onna soar off into the sky, after saying a soft goodbye. He jumped up into a tree, sitting on a branch. He closed his eyes and opened up his mind. Some meditating would keep his mind off of... any distractions.
You let her go, I see.
Hiei felt his eye brows shoot up. What the hell? Oh... it's the fox.
What's it to you?
She must be hurt. You didn't even say goodbye. Hiei gritted his teeth. He wanted to find the fox and make him regret ever disturbing him. His frown turned into a grin. Maybe he would start with putting him under mind control... some embarrassment would be nice before a beating. I heard that.
Get out of my head! NOW!
Hiei heard a light chuckle. Ugh. He really did not want to deal with this. He wanted to be left alone. He was better when he was by himself.
So... tell me, Hiei... why did you growl when Koenma hugged Botan? Were you... jealous?
Hiei closed his eyes. He didn't know, but the fox didn't know that. He stayed silent, hoping that Kurama would just go away. Maybe if he ignored him long enough...
Your silence speaks in volumes. Okay maybe not.
I'd rather talk to you in person. Until then, good riddance.
Hiei smirked as silence blessed his mind. It started to rain. Hiei tilted his head up so the water droplets ran down his face. Baka onna. What have you done to me?
VIII
Botan was... sad? No. Disappointed? No. Just... well, she felt incomplete. Like she had left something behind. Botan shook herself into a smile. That's impossible. I had an awesome time, well, besides the whole being tortured thing... I got to hang out with Yukina. Everything was taken care of.
"Wouldn't it be something, Botan?"
It had been plaguing her mind. She had been working for a week now and she still heard Yukina's voice. But, there was nothing she could do about it. She inhaled slowly and took off on her oar, ready for a day full of ferrying souls. She would feel better later. She just had to get her mind off of... what? Botan bit her lip. How was she supposed to get better if she didn't know what was bothering her?
IX
Hiei felt the fox coming. He didn't move from his tree or open his eyes. Kurama could find him. And he did. The Koorime heard the wind blow and the light landing of the fox's feet. He opened one crimson eye.
"Fox."
Kurama smiled blandly. He knew it was hopeless to try to get Hiei to call him by his name.
"Well, are you ready to talk?"
"Hn."
Kurama hesitated. He could be blunt. Blunt and to the point was good with Hiei. Alluding to the subject just annoys him. But... did Kurama value his limbs? Annoyance... limbs. Oh the choices. Kurama bit his lip and drew in air. Here it goes.
"I think you are protective of Botan. All I'm saying is protective. Don't misunderstand me, please, Hiei."
Hiei frowned.
"Is it because she looks like Yukina? Or maybe because she is kind to your sister. Whatever the reason, your instincts have decided to be on the lookout for her. To make sure that she is safe."
Kurama looked into Hiei's eyes, both were now open. To Kurama's surprise, Hiei didn't glare or make death threats. In fact, his frown lessened.
"I wouldn't know, fox. It's nothing."
Kurama felt his heart sink as Hiei had just shut himself off. Again. The kitsune waited, but after five minutes he called it quits. He could only help so much. Kurama, wanting some revenge, felt that maybe he should share some information.
"While I don't particularly listen to Yusuke, he said something that caught my interest." No response. "He doesn't think it's a platonic relationship like we have with her." Not even a growl. "He thinks you've developed... certain feelings for her."
"Leave, fox."
X
Botan finished her work late. She stayed after to talk to her boss, Koenma. She had realized during her day that Hiei had killed a nigen. Something he was strictly forbidden to do.
"Koenma? Can I talk to you for a second?"
Botan couldn't help but smile at the overworked Prince. His eyes were weary as he lifted his stamp to clear some paper work. He sighed as he stamped the paper and looked at his top ferry girl.
"Sure, Botan, make it quick."
"I was wondering if you were going to punish Hiei."
Koenma looked at Botan like she had sprouted an extra appendage.
"Do you want me to?"
Botan shook her head desperately, causing her blue locks to jostle about. Her pink eyes were wide and shining with care. She was as pure as pure could get.
"No, sir! I was hoping that you would at least... thank him. He saved me."
Koenma nodded absent mindedly.
"Sure, tell him I said thanks, okay, Botan?"
Botan blinked. Was that seriously all Koenma was going to do? Hiei deserved more than that! Koenma looked up to see his ferry girl looking at him angrily. His eyes were tired, and he sighed.
"Don't worry, Botan. I'll shorten his sentence."
Botan grinned as she flew out of Koenma's office. She went to her apartment and changed into her pajamas. They were blue satin with silver half crescent moons on them. Her favorites. Well, I guess I'd better find Hiei, huh?
The ferry girl flew out of her room, her hair let down and flowing through the wind like bubbles in water. Botan relished the air as she sped through the skies of Rekai and into the clouds of Ningenkai. It was so alluring, the scent of the night air. Soon, she found herself in the outskirts of Genkai's forest.
Botan was barefoot, and her satin clothes only swished as she walked through the forest.
"Hiei! I know you can hear me! Come out now and I won't use the whistle!"
The ferry girl pulled off a smirk that would rival the half Koorime's. She was well aware of how Hiei detested the instrument. Even though she knew this, she was still startled when Hiei appeared inches away from her face.
"Hn. Onna, what is it?"
XI
A/N: Oooh! It took me longer than I would have liked to write this chapter! I love Hiei... he's just so... Hiei! Aaagh! Anyway, review! I love them, and that's what keeps me writing, don't forget!
-Mia