AN: I'm trying to get the updates going faster. Usually I write in my profile telling you guys why I haven't update.

Hiei'sgirl13 – Thanks. Hiei is going nicer, isn't he? Well that's character development for ya.

Crystal Koneko – I like Takeru too! The kill Zinan is later in this chapter. Do you like the elves from Lord of the Ring?

WolfSpirt – Thanks.

Densetsu Tenshi – Really? Well thanks for reviewing and I hope that you like this chapter too.

Vindiya – Thanks for pointing out that I had errors in the last chapter. I went back and fixed some of them. Sadly I no longer have a beta reader because our schedules conflicted so I have to do it myself.

Suntiger – well, I already e-mail you. Did you e-mail me back? If you did, I think that I accidentally deleted it. Opps.

Darkness... – Thanks for not killing Koenma. Umm, Takeru did not work for Santa Clause. But if you want, I could make a chapter for you where Santa Clause is a demon and does… stuff.

Kitsune Kit – Me too! That's why I chose that outfit for her.

poptart – I like your name. What Yukina and Hiei were talking will be explain later. As soon as I found out. Oh, and here's more!

Jake Jackal – Thanks!

Hiei's Ice Maiden – Thanks a lot.

botan's horse – Yukina was… I'll get back to you on that. I have to wait to find out too because I don't know! And I'm the writer! Hiei is going to wear the ribbon. But not in a way that you may think.

orange09 – Do you really think so? Well thanks! I feel so loved.

Hiding behind a mask – It's updated.

RitSuYue – It's updated.

BoTaN JaNaGaShI AKA.yukieitan – Thanks.

Robin Autumn – Thanks. Wow. You're really in love. I'm flattered that you really really liked the chapter.

luckyducky – I'm trying my best to have them stay in character. But there will be times that they will seem OOC because of the situation and character development. Thank you for reading and reviewing.

animagrl – I don't know Yukina's secret! But I have updated.

Danielle – Wow. Thanks a lot for liking my fic. Sorry that I couldn't update sooner.

Harpra – Thanks for reviewing twice. Thanks for wishing me peace, prosperity, good health, wisdom, strength, and no writers block. I wish you the same. I've tried my best to update soon. Have you looked at demon web sites? This web site has a lot of demon names. http/ – ((eyes wide)) You'll kill everyone? Kill who? And I updated!

Black Wolf Fire – I will finish this story! And hopefully before summer comes. And please, I beg of you, DON'T CUT MY TOES!

Lise – I've updated! Are you serious? All of them in one night? ((bugged eyed))

alex – Thanks. Does the other authors' stories that you read not update?

'Thoughts…'

Dancing Still

The first thing that Botan noticed when she awoken was that she was unusually warm. Still having her eyes closed and half asleep, Botan tried to feel her surroundings to see (or feel) what was keeping her so warm. Her hand rubbed against a blanket that was draped over her body, but she had a feeling that it wasn't the only thing keeping her warm. Plus it didn't feel like her blanket. Slowly she opened her eyes and blinked a couple of times to rid herself of the blurred visions. When her sight became clearer, she saw that the room she was currently in wasn't hers.

In fact, she didn't recognize it at all.

Panic seized Botan. Hurridly, she began to search the room for any clues as to whose it belonged to. She lifted her head from the pillows and was about to sit up when something brought her back down to the bed. Looking at the place where she felt the pressure on her body, she saw the thing that brought her down. Her mouth opened in a silent gasp. Which she immediately thank all that was good that her voice became inaudible at that moment. There was an arm holding Botan down by her waist, and looking to where the arm was connected to was Hiei, sleeping soundly right next to her, facing her back. Surprisingly, Botan never noticed him until that moment. She blamed it on the tiredness and sleepiness that she still felt.

If she had bothered to look closer in the way that he held her, she would have said that it was very protective. That or possessive.

Botan felt very comfortable lying where she was. She turned her head around to look at him and tried not to move her body so she wouldn't wake him. Staring at his face, Botan thought he looked adorable while he was sleeping. She wished that she could watch him sleep more often. The she blushed when she realized that she may just get her wish and soon. The dream that she had of him giving her seductive smirks came back to her and she flushed even more. Wetness tickled between her legs and then she moved them awkwardly. Her movements caused Hiei to stir and she quickly moved her head back and feigned sleep.

Unknown to Botan, Hiei had been awake, since her wetness first appeared. The scent of her arousal infiltrated his nose and immediately woke him up. And he was having such a nice peaceful sleep too, something that he had little of in his whole life. But maybe, this could make up for it. His eyes darkened and made an intent look at the back of her head. The desire to have her, to take her, surged throughout his whole body. The arm that was wrapped around her had formed into a fist.

The need for her was so much that his arm was bringing her closer to him. As her body came closer to his, the scent grew. The more the scent grew, the more intoxicated he became. It was addicting. Hiei's lust filled mind wondered if she tasted as good as she smelled. It's been too long since he had a woman to sate him and this was the first time that it was going to be with someone that he cared for.

The experience looked promising.

Take her. Her body is ready. She is ready.

Hiei couldn't deny what his lustful thoughts said mainly because he didn't want to. Her scent drugged him. There was only one way to remedy it. Once her body was pressed against his, he took a deep breathe, breathing her in. He tightened his hold on her, enjoying the feel of her being so close to him. Hiei was sure that she would feel even better without any barriers between them.

However, before he could make any advances on her, Hiei heard Botan's rapid heart beat. His sensitive ears heard her short quick breaths and the nervous pattern in which her heart was beating. As if it was a wake call, his instincts started screaming, No! Not yet! She isn't ready!

Hiei bit his lips from growling with disappointment and said huskily in her ear when he was able to control himself, "I'm know that you're awake."

Botan's face became even redder. She had obviously thought that he was going to do what he had originally intended. Hiei chuckled silently.

"Oh… well I… didn't know that you were awake," she fumbled at her words.

If the word cute was in his dictionary, he would have thought that she looked very cute at that moment. But since it wasn't, he thought that she looked exceedingly exquisite.

He smirked at her. Looking at him from the corner of her eye because she was too embarrassed to look at him straight on, she saw the smirk and blushed even more. Hiei smirked once more and laid back down on his bed, taking most of the warmth and blanket away from Botan.

Botan pulled on the blanket and wrapped it around her to regain the warmth. Hiei frowned and pulled the blanket back to him. She pulled back. He growled.

"Onna, stop pulling the blanket! You had had it most of the night. It's my turn."

Botan turned her body around to face him and glared. She was not a happy person if she didn't get her early morning sleep after a night's long slumber. "But I want it and I'm cold. I still want to sleep. Besides, it's a big bed with a big blanket, share."

"That's impossible to do when you keep taking them," he growled at her.

"Are you calling me a blanket hug?"

Deja vu swept over them. Flashes of the Botan being called fat incident crept back into their minds.

"Why do you still feel the need to sleep when you slept early last night? Not to mention the fact that it's morning."

"It is?" she asked with innocence.

"The blanket is mine." And with that, Hiei pulled the blanket harder, taking it out of the ferry girl's grasp, wrapped it tightly around himself, and faced his back toward her.

Botan's mouth opened incredulously and blinked. She closed her mouth while fire burned in her eyes. She tried to pull the blanket back to continue their tug-of-war so that she could get the blanket back but to no avail. Hiei had a tight grip on it. She started to pout.

"Hiei." She poked his back. He didn't move. She poked again and got the same result. "Hiei," she whined.

"Hn."

"Hiei," she snarled his name with annoyance and warning.

"Hn." He smirked. He was having fun.

"That's it Minster, I warned you." Botan balled her fist and punched the demon's back as hard as she could while letting out her own war cry. When she withdrew, she shook her hand with pain and bit her lip so that Hiei wouldn't hear her whimper. Botan saw his back stiffen when she glanced at him. She started to get nervous. "Hiei? I didn't hurt you too much, right? Because I'm still a weak ningen, ne? Ne? Hiei?"

Hiei slowly turned around. She saw his stone face with mischievous eyes before she felt herself fall from the bed. She looked up at the bed and complained, "That's wasn't nice Hiei!"

All she got was a chuckle. He sprawled himself on his bed so that she couldn't get back on. "My bed."

"But I was on it too!" she sat up on the floor.

"So?"

"So you had no right to push me!"

"My bed, my bedroom, my castle. That gives me the right to do whatever I damn please." He smirked at her fuming face.

"You're being a jerk."

"I'm not a jerk, just cocky."

"What's the difference of what you are?" Botan said.

He caught her chin with his hand and held it in place. He smirked with seduction. "The difference is I can be whatever you want me to be."

All Botan could do was shiver.

Outside the castle, two demons walked with a lazy pace in the direction of Hiei's home. Both were covered from head to toe, making it difficult, if not impossible, to tell their skin color unless one was to look at their hands. One had a battle mask with one long line that was used as a peep hole for the eyes. The other was wrapped in bandages and ofudas placed on random places on his/her head. The gender was difficult to tell. The most likely answer would be male.

As they arrived near the door, they were greeted by several demons lined up in a single file, bowing, and Takeru at the lead.

"Mukuro-sama. It is good to see you again," Takeru said and began to walk with them inside.

"And you. Tell me, is Hiei still here? Or is he at Ningenkai now?" Mukuro asked.

"Hiei-san is still here. I believe that he is currently located in his bed chambers."

"How unusual of him. He should have left by now to visit her." The last word was said with distaste.

"I believe that she with him now," Takeru's voice was light.

"Really?" this definitely caught Mukuro's attention. "Did they mate?"

They reached two large doors in which Takeru opened. Inside was a long table in which the three sat down. Takeru paused before answering. "If by mate you mean, have they claimed one another? It is highly doubtful. But if you meant that they had sex, then that is a good possibility. However, I don't believe that they did."

Unseen by her two companions, Mukuro raised an eye brow. "Then what do you believe?"

Takeru gave her a causal smile. "That they just slept together."

"Do you have proof of this?" asked the other demon who sat next to Mukuro.

"No," Takeru gave him a disarming smile.

Kiri grunted. He didn't fully trust Takeru. He was an unpredictable factor with eyes that claimed that they were all knowing and a smile forever on his lips. Sometimes Kiri wondered why Hiei chose him as head of his security. (AN: Is Kiri still alive in the anime?)

"What do you think of her?" Mukuro asked, curiosity laced in her voice.

Takeru just kept on smiling. "I like her."

Several hours later from when Hiei kicked Botan out of his bed, Hiei walked down the halls and went out the door that led out of the castle. At the door, he waited for Takeru. Hiei already knew that Mukuro was in his castle and only stayed in the same room with her for no more than two minutes, informing her that some of the demons under her were going to die.

He immediately left after she spoken some very interesting words with him. He didn't want to be delayed any longer.

While Hiei waited for the elf, he thought back to when he was still with the baka onna a few minutes ago. He found that he enjoyed making her blush and liked the way her face seemed to glow whenever she talked. Of course he did think that that trait of hers was still annoying, but less so now. He liked listening to her talk. How odd that he considered it annoying and yet enjoyed it at the same time.

Hiei also discovered his strange fascination with touching her skin. Her face in particular. It was so smooth and creamy. He originally was just trying to make her face flush by tracing it with his finger when he found that he couldn't pull away. He wanted to put both of his hands on her face and move her closer to him. But she was the one who pulled away from him. The onna was easily embarrassed.

He knew what he was feeling. He never thought that he would feel-

"My Lord?" Takeru's asked. Hiei stopped his musing to glance at him. Then he nodded and raced off. The other right behind him.

An hour later at a different location, a small fortress shook. Outside, bodies of slain demons created the illusion of an open, fresh grave. Inside, the sound of terror and panic echoed throughout walls. Fire was the main element being used and it buried away a few demons along with their dust. Occasionally, a bright golden light flashed and several life forces departed from Makai. Dried blood painted the inside of the walls, only because the current owners were messy with their killings. The way they were being killed was clean.

'There's a bit of ironacy in this,' Takeru thought to himself as he brought a staff down on a demon's head hard, effectively smashing the skull down to the neck. Then he leaned against the wall right next to the corner and held out his staff so that it stood at an angle. Another demon running by tripped on it.

In a different part of the fortress, Zinan absconded in the halls as fast as he could with no feet. The very air felt like death was approaching and he didn't want to be one of the dead just yet. He didn't dare look back. If he had, he would have gotten encouraged to run faster. But he didn't and he stupidly thought that he could actually get away.

Zinan smirked to himself. If he escaped, then there was still a chance of carrying out his plans. Almost at the door, Zinan reached out to open it when he noticed that his arm had lost some weight. Looking at it, he saw that his forearm was missing. Like in a pervious fight Hiei had fought in the Dark Tournament, Zinan didn't feel any pain until he noticed it. He began to scream and curse in pain at the top of his lungs.

"And I thought that the baka onna was the loudest person I knew," Hiei muttered.

"My arm!" Zinan screamed. "My right arm!"

"It's not your right arm that you should be concerned with."

That next thing that Zinan saw was his whole left arm on the floor. Sliced in a perfect line. He fell to the ground, too weak to remain standing.

"Now," Hiei pointed the tip of his sword to the fallen demon's neck. "Tell me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you right now after you sent a pathetic group of demons after me and the onna yesterday."

"Mukuro-san…" Zinan said weakly.

"What does she have to do with any of this?" Hiei's tone was flat.

"Killing me only because…. you got mad… and everyone else here… she's ningen," he crooked out.

Hiei's face reminded emotionless but his eyes spoke volumes. He was furious. He leaned towards Zinan's body a little. "Takeru's killing your underlings because Mukuro found proof that you and everyone else here was planning on betraying her. I'm here, on the verge of killing you because of yesterday, after I gave you a very generous pass to live."

Zinan shook from hemorrhage and from fear. He didn't have anything to say. Hiei looked at him with disgust. He wasn't fit to be demon. Without another word, he ended the pathetic sap's life and left. He placed a hand on the side of his chest, where Botan's ribbon was located, and then he benighted as he went into the shadows, like always.

Back at Hiei's castle, Botan admired herself in the full length mirror. After taking a long bath, she found some clothes outside the bathroom door that was almost her size. The top was a little small on her, but it complimented her curves so she didn't complain. She wore dark blue sweats and a matching blue tank. Botan thought that she looked like a girl version of Hiei, but taller and had different colors of hair and eyes. He called her look, Yukina Version Two.

She giggled as she tried to imitate Hiei's snarl and his glare. Of course one couldn't pull off a snarl while they giggled and her glare looked pitiful. Next she tried copying some of his fighting moves.

"Dragon of the Darkness Flame!" she yelled while she tried to arrange her body in the way she saw Hiei did whenever he called upon the dragon. Botan looked and felt like an idiot. Then her stomach growled. Placing a hand on her rumbling tummy she said, "Time to eat."

Botan opened the door of Hiei's room and poked her head out. She saw no one in the hall when she looked both ways and there was no tray of food on the floor. She was disappointed because she had hoped that there would be food there like all the movies and television shows portrayed. Botan got out of the room and slowly closed the door. She made her way down the empty halls as quietly as she could. It was as if he was afraid to disturb the silence. When Botan reached an intersection at the hall, she saw a female demon making her way to some unknown destination.

"Hi. I'm Botan and I'm Hiei's-" Botan started but was cut short when the other female raised her hand.

"Mukuro-sama would like to see you," she said and then proceeded to walk away. Botan followed her.

"Do you have any food?"

The unknown female just led her to a room with a table and food on top. Botan practically squealed with joy and ran to the table and took a sit.

"You are pleased very easily," an eerie voice said.

Botan looked up to see who had spoken. "Mukuro-san! I didn't know that you were here. Would you like something to eat?"

"No, I just wanted to talk to you. I'll wait until you're done," Mukuro took a seat opposite of her.

Botan began to eat a little bit faster then she usual did. She didn't want to keep the once ruler of Makai (or part of it) waiting too long. Plus, having Mukuro right next to her, watching her eat, unnerved her.

When she was done, Mukuro asked, "Do you know how to dance?"

"Eh?" came Botan's confused voice. What did that have to do with anything? And why did she want to know? "I… know. Do you?"

"Have you ever danced with him?"

Botan didn't ask who 'he' was. She was a bit upset that Mukuro didn't answer her question. "No."

"I see. I have. Danced with him. Numerous times." Mukuro paused and asked before Botan could say anything. "What do you dance?"

Botan blushed with embarrassment. "I've only been taught a Chinese dance. It's a dance for one."

The demon raised one of eyebrows. "I see. Maybe you should teach me it one day," she muttered.

"What did you say?"

Mukuro looked coolly at the ferry girl. "Do you know that I'm a very jealous woman?"

"Um, no." Botan had no idea where this was going.

"Do you care for Hiei?"

This is an easy question. "Yes."

"I care for him too."

"I'm sure that you do. I mean after all, he is your second in command and very powerful. He's a great fighter too, not that I'm saying that you don't know, because I'm sure that you do. You sought him out specifically so you should know. And he's a great friend to have. Very loyal and helpful when you need him the most. But I'm sure that you know all this too since you spend the most time with him," Botan babbled.

"I don't spend much time with him as of late."

Botan reddened knowing the reason why. "Oh. Well, yeah."

"Have you two gotten past just holding hands?"

"Um… we did sleep in the same bed," Botan made a weak smile because she was afraid that Mukuro might get the wrong idea. They weren't mated yet.

"I care for Hiei. I'm not sure how much you care for him but I will be spiteful enough for now to say that I care for him more than you do," Mukuro's voice was almost strident.

"N-Nani?" Realization washed over Botan like a tidal wave. She suddenly felt very small and wanted to run. Run in circles screaming like her mind was while a small other part of her wanted to bang Mukuro's head on the table. She wasn't very comfortable with that idea because it wasn't in her nature to be violent unless she absolute had to or provoked. She wondered if this was one of those times.

"I want him to stay by my side. I do not see yet why he likes you so, though I have some idea. I am sure that you are a self-abnegation person and have a convivial attitude. Maybe that is why he likes you. Or maybe it's what revolts him and only forces himself to stay with you," Mukuro said.

"I…" Botan was at a lost on what to say.

"I am close with Hiei. I know about his past, how he was abandoned all the way to when he got his Jagan, because he has let me see it."

Botan abruptly became jealous. The only reason why she knew Hiei's past was because it was a part of his profile when he was still working for Koenma. He never told her anything about his past.

She cleared her throat. "Are you saying that I'm not close to him?"

"No. I am saying that I'm very close with him. He has have even seen me without clothes on the first day that we've met."

The ferry girl's eyes widen with mistrust. "Are you going to get rid of me? Kill me?"

"No," came Mukuro's reply. "If I did, he would not forgive me. May even kill me."

"Oh."

So she was afraid of Hiei. Did that mean that he is stronger than her?

"Do not think that I have said all of this to scare you out of your courtship with him. I say this so that you could be prepared."

"Prepared for what?" Maybe this is what the conversation is supposed to be about.

"Hiei and I are kindred spirits. The both of us have gone through pain and hardships in our lives that has gotten us to where we are now. Can you honestly say that you can really take care of him when you had a more pampered life?" Mukuro asked.

Botan looked down for a moment. "I think that I can."

"If you are to be with him, don't think, just do it." Mukuro got up and started to leave. She stopped at the door. "One more thing. You should start practicing that dance for one of yours."

Then she left. Leaving the girl of Reikai alone in the big room.

Somehow, Botan found herself in Hiei's room. The halls were like maze so she didn't know how she got there. A fan appeared in the air, which Botan caught easily when it fell. She always kept a fan in hand just in case she ever wanted to dance again.

She snapped it open and saw the design of it in the mirror. It was golden dragon. She spread her arms away from her body and began the dance that was meant for one. Then she stopped and moved ever so slowly. She looked at herself carefully. 'This is how it is to be dance still.'

The whole world seems to stop and there is nothing else but you and the person you're dancing for.

When Hiei came back, the fan was gone and Botan was sitting on his bed. She got up and bit her lip.

"Were you bored?" Hiei asked.

Following Mukuro's advice, she didn't think. Botan grabbed Hiei's head and brought her lips to his.