AN: Reasons why I updated so late: I got lazy; I forgot about the SATs; I forgot about my finals; I got really busy with my friend's party that I am a part of her court; I got serious family problems. Hope you all enjoy this chapter and I will do my best to update faster but I make no promises because I got a week of finals still coming up.

Ookami Otome – Hope that you like this chapter. You seem to be in shock right now.

Dragon Tamer103088 – Hiei's reaction with be… Well, read and find out. I'm not sure if he likes to watch people dance. I think you're confused. The people around him like to dance and use it as an antonym for life. I hope that I spelled the word right.

Crystal Koneko – Thank you. I thought that the conversation between Mukuro and Botan would really happen too. I tired not to make Mukuro seem too much like a threat, but I guess it couldn't be helped.

Hiei'sgirl13 – Mukuro wasn't that bad. And yes, Hiei and Botan finally kissed.

tuathafaerie – You finally reviewed! I thought that you dropped of the face of the earth! But I knew that you were sick, and I hope that you feel better. I lost my voice over spring break. The long review does make up for it, thanks. Yes they are still in the mating process, but they won't be having any kids for a very long time. And, I don't think that Hiei would be getting Botan sheet any time soon. But the idea does have possibilities. I have to think more on it.

ShadowDragon – Thank you. I tried as best as I could to update sooner. But alas, it was not meant to be.

luckyducky – Thank you. Hiei's going to kiss her back of course! Hope you like this chapter too.

Vindiya – I know! I tried to find them when I edited it, but I got so tired of looking over the same thing over and over again. I appreciate the offer, really I do and it flatters me, but sadly I cannot accept. For one, I need to learn how to do it myself because I need to learn how to spell and write with better grammar. And also, my schedule is crazy. I'm not consistence as I used to be and bad luck follows me everywhere. With my last beta readers, they became too busy to edit my chapters when they just started too! and lastly, your e-mail stopped at so I couldn't send you my chapters even if I wanted to. Then I remembered that you have an account on fanfiction too and then I felt stupid. But I am really sorry and hope that you enjoy my story.

Darkness... – Thanks. If Botan did attack Mukuro, Hiei would be very sad and the story would have ended. I think. I can tie in Santa Clause into the story, but it would be a very twisted tale of him and not the happy one that we all like to hear. So if you don't want a sick tale of him just say the word and I'll change my plans because it's not an official thing yet.

RitSuYue – Thank you. Did I really use so many big words? Sorry. Practicing for the SATs. Granted that none of the words I used was on there. Well this chapter has no big words so they should be an easy read for you.

kahel09 – I so sorry that I couldn't update sooner. I tired but I just got so busy. And thank you.

Kitsune Kit – Never piss of Mukuro. I'm happy that I updated.

Hiei's Ice Maiden – I tried to update soon. Maybe the next chapter I'll update faster. And thank you.

Robin Autumn – Thank you. I hope that you didn't wait too long. No worries, I cant spell either!

Jester of Confusion – First, cool name. second, there will be no lemon in this fic. If you want lemon then read my other fic called Good. Third, here's more!

Daine-Weirynsra – Mukuro wasn't that bad. At least I didn't think so. And I updated!

BlackRosesofHell – Thank you. I've been thinking of this plot ever since the summer of last year. But there's more to it than you think and it's in this chapter.

Suntiger – Yeah, too bad I ended it there. But it picked up here. And yes, but shh. It's a secret.

animagrl – No lemon. Read my other fic Good.

DB – Thank you. Hope that you like this chapter.

Harpra – Thank you and here's the next chapter. You're right. It did take me a while to update.

anime09 – I updated!

animegrl15 – I sorry, but I can't drag it out as you would like. The story must go on. But there are still a couple of chapters left. Well, there should be a couple of chapters left. And thank you, but no lemon in this fic.

Jake Jackal – Thank you. You rock!

Tear Drop Eyes – Thank you. And I did update.

felix – thank you. What do you know; I did make your deadline.

Pen Against Sword – Why does every hate Mukuro now? And no biggie. I updated!

Black Wolf Fire – I sorry but I've been busy. And you can't sick wolves on me because they are my favorite animals!

Hiei's Kat – Sorry, but I couldn't find the time to read the chapter that you sent me. Though I did mange to read half of it.

Kimbley – Thank you. I tried to update soon. Read to find out what happens next.

Naito Sora – You really think that my fic is that good? Cool. I really did try. Thank you. I'm sure that you could write something as good or better than mine if you tried.

hieibandit – Mukuro wasn't that scary. Mukuro is a very powerful demon that used to be one of its rulers. Thanks for reading and reviewing.

Let Go

If there was ever a person giddier than Botan was at that moment, Hiei had yet to meet that person. Then again, Botan was the happiest person that Hiei ever met so maybe this shouldn't be too weird for him.

But it was!

The onna kept smiling and giggling to herself ever since she took him by surprise. Though it was a nice surprise. So nice that it even made him smile. And that same smile would not get off his lips no matter how hard he tried. Not that he really wanted to rid himself of the giddy feeling that he was currently sharing with the onna.

The ferry girl was definitely changing him. For one, giddy was not in his dictionary and so far he used the word twice in one day. For another, giddy is associated with stupid and silly, and he just described the feeling that he felt with giddy. The onna was changing him, whether he liked it or not.

Hiei growled, but not unkindly. "Baka onna."

He pulled her closer so that he could kiss her. He liked kissing her. Granted that when she first pulled him into their first kiss, there was no huge explosion that declared unyielding love or sparks running throughout their bodies. However he did love the feeling of her body melting when he placed his mouth on top of hers. Her lips were so warm and inviting. He also liked the taste of her. She tasted like life and death at the same time. There was also something else that he couldn't identify but he didn't mind because it tasted like her and that was all he needed to know.

Hiei pulled away from her so that she could breath. He saw Botan's dazed expression and somewhat puffy lips. He pulled her towards him and kissed her again. He was starting to get addicted to her.

Botan giggled again when they broke apart. "I could definitely get use to that."

He already was more than use to it. Hiei brought her closer to him and inhaled her scent deeply. After a while, he pulled away from Botan but still held on to her hand. She looked at him questionable.

"Yukina will start to wonder where you are."

"I'm sure that she knows where I am," Botan said, brushing off the thought of leaving.

Hiei smirked. Years ago, the onna would have agreed with him and would leave to not upset his sister. She was changing as well. He wanted her to leave though. It wasn't as if he really wanted her to leave. It was just he would gone from the castle all night tying up some loose strings and he didn't want her to get bored doing nothing in his room and he didn't trust her fighting skills enough to leave her alone in Makai. Takeru would be too busy doing his own work to watch her and he didn't trust anyone else in Makai to protect her.

Hiei caressed her cheek. "It's time for you to go back to Ningenkai."

"Why?"

A thoughtful expression crossed his face. "I need to finish something that I've started tonight. And it will take me all night," he finished before she could say a word.

Botan pouted. "But can't I just stay here?"

"You'll get bored and then start wondering the halls by yourself. By the time I get back, I won't know who to save, you or my underlings."

She whacked him the shoulders lightly. "I think that maybe you've spent too much time with me. You're been making too many jokes where I'm the butt end of almost all of it."

Hiei led her to the balcony and shrugged nonchalantly. "Why not? You're easy to tease and… amusing to watch when you react."

"You know what? I won't even respond to it. I'll be the mature one here."

"You do that."

"Fine. I will."

"I still have to give you a present."

Botan's eyes sparkled like a little kid on Christmas and her childish voice exclaimed, "Present!"

Then the two disappeared.

In Reikai, Koenma was bored and he didn't want to do any of his mountain high pile of work. And when he was bored, he did either of two things: do something that would get people humiliated (mainly Yusuke) to amuse him or have his mind go off in its own little world where it would then proceed to make him think about things that he rather not think about.

Today, his mind decided to go off on its own and started to think about a certain ferry girl.

How pretty her long blue hair was and the smile that was always on her face. How beautiful and clear her skin was and how she always wore her heart on her sleeve. She was such a terrible lair. And how she was dating Hiei and how she looked as if she was falling in love with him and not him. Him as in Hiei and him as in Koenma.

Then Koenma's heart sank.

Thinking about Botan was painful.

At least he knew that he wasn't alone in his misery. What a shocker, really. Who would have ever thought that Kurama would fall for the blue haired deity too? And all this time, he thought that the fox demon like Hiei. The reason why he knew this was because he was watching Hiei, just to make sure that his motives were in earnests, when he saw both demons fighting. After Hiei shockingly (another shocker) defeated Kurama, he turned his attention to the small king of Reikai.

When Hiei looked at Koenma straight in the eye through the television that Koenma was watching from, the little ruler of Reikai nearly had a heart attack. Hiei knew that he was watching him and he even threatened that if he ever caught Koenma watching him again, Reikai would lose its only ruler.

Muttering curses under his breath for remembering that day, Koenma began to look for his remote to see what Yusuke was doing and maybe cause him to get in trouble with Keiko again. He didn't want to think about Hiei. It would only then lead to Botan and the two of them together.

He wasn't a stranger to demon courting. He knew that it involved a lot of (shiver) touching and closeness. Koenma wished with all his heart that it would stop. That they'd break it off and separate. That Botan would come running to him so that she could stay with him for all eternity. That she would forget all about Hiei and this fling would become some chapter in her afterlife that didn't need to be brought up again. Ever. But it wasn't so and instead of searching for his remote, he began to toy with the idea of using his holy powers for his own purpose.

Unconsciously, he put a little more power into his pacifier.

It would be so easy. And so wrong. But that didn't matter, he was Kami after all. Or at least the son of, who then became ruler after discovering the corruption of his father. But that's another story and Koenma brought his mind back on tract. What if he did use his powers to change Botan? Change the way that she felt about Hiei. That would be selfish and oh so wrong. And temping. But wrong. But it would make him feel less miserable. He could change the direction of her feelings of love to Hiei and aim it at himself.

It was possible. Though it'd require a lot of energy and it'd also look suspicious if all of sudden Botan started to love him instead of Hiei. Koenma brought his hand to his chin and thought. It would be a messy process too. Maybe he could redirect her love to Kurama instead. He trusted the fox demon to take care of Botan more than Hiei. He highly doubted that Hiei even knew how much Botan was special. In the back of his mind, he knew that that judgment came purely out of jealousy.

And he knew that it was wrong. Very wrong. And selfish.

"So what if it's wrong!" Koenma grumbled to himself. Two weeks of suppressing his emotions of what was happening made him to start to think crazy. "And I don't care if it is wrong! I just want it to stop!"

He jumped on top of his desk and puked his pacifier from his mouth and held it high. "It'd be so easy. It'll be back to me and Botan again. Botan and me."

But it was wrong.

So very wrong. Taking away something or at least changing what was natural and making it unnatural. It would be a crime. And Botan was his friend. Probably his best friend and visa versa. He should be happy for her. Happy that she found someone to be with after hundreds of years, but he wasn't. To deny that was like to deny that humans needed to breath in order to live. Because should he continue to deny it, then he'd only fall into the pit of destruction for both him and Botan. Kurama made a perfect example.

Koenma slumped back into his chair. He toyed with his pacifier. Maybe he could use it to destroy Hiei. Or frame him in a crime like killing a ningen so that he could arrest him. Or-

"Koenma-sama!" Jorge burst through the doors with Ayame right behind him.

"What! Can't you see that I'm busy!" Koenma yelled at the ogre.

Jorge halted at the front of his desk and stared at Koenma's baby form playing with the pacifier.

"But Koenma-sama! It's important!"

"Unless demons have invaded Reikai or Ningenkai by the hundreds, then I don't think that it is important. I'm sure that you could take care of it. I have complete faith and total confidence in you," Koenma said even though his tone suggested otherwise but he didn't care. Koenma turned his chair around so that his workers couldn't see him.

"It's about Botan," Ayame stepped up.

Koenma swirled his chair around so fast that he ended up rotating his chair twice. When he finally caught his desk to stop himself, he asked, "What's wrong? Is she hurt? Did Hiei do it?"

Ayame and Jorge looked at each other, silently telling the other to go first.

Like before but in Makai, Botan found herself in front of Genkai's temple after Hiei teleported them from Makai. The trip was too short for her liking and she wanted to stay with the small demon a little longer. The sun was about to set and Hiei grabbed her and carried her to the roof so they could watch it set.

It was like a dream to Botan. One that she wished would never end. Sitting on the roof, she laid her head on top of his since he was shorter. It didn't matter to her. His shortness only made him look more adorable. It reminded her of a teddy bear. She giggled softly at that thought.

"What's so funny now?" Hiei asked.

"You." She couldn't wipe the smile on her face.

"How so?"

"You," she pinched his cheek, "are just so adorable. Yes you are," she cooed.

Hiei's eye twitched. "Enough onna." He tried to pull away from her pinching fingers but they wouldn't let go. He could feel his cheek turning red from her squeezing. "Onna, let go."

Botan pouted at his glare but reluctantly let go. She didn't want to cause any trouble while they were still in a good mood. But then she saw his small smile and she felt a wave of happiness overcome her. She loved making him smile and would gladly make it her life's purpose to make him smile whenever she could.

"I knew that you liked being called adorable!" She giggled even more when he mouth started twitching. "Alright, I'll stop."

He leered at her. "If you don't then you get your present."

Botan became panicky. "I'll be good! I'll be good!"

He rolled his eyes at her and reached into his hidden pocket and took out an un-blossomed flower. It looked similar to the Aysel that Botan had gotten from before, but the color was pink instead of yellow.

Botan eyed it carefully. "What's it called? Does it only bloom with moonlight?"

"Channary. Yes. Place it with the Aysel. Something worth seeing should happen when it's full moon."

She looked up at him with big, wide eyes. So much like a child. "Really? Like what?

"You'll find out tonight."

"I think that I love it already."

Late that night, Botan finally arrived in her room. Covering up a yawn, she vaguely remembered that she still had her Channary in her hand. Reaching her Aysel, she placed her new flower in the same pot. Then she turned her back to both of the plants and began to change. Just as she was halfway done pulling her shirt over her head, she not only saw bright colors dancing around her room, but heard singing as well. Turning around, she saw that both of her flowers had opened.

Tripping over her feet and fumbling to get her shirt off with one hand and trying to get it back on with the other, she finally made it to look closer at her flowers. The usual yellow demonic flower was giving out colors as always underneath the full moonlight but something was different about it. The colors were moving to the beat of the music provided by the pink one. The Channary was open emitting some type of song. Though Botan couldn't understand what it was, she greatly enjoyed the beat and the show that the other flower was showing.

The singing was at first soft, then it picked up pace and did an up beat song, then just music was produced. All the while, the Aysel stayed in tuned with it; like they were meant to be together. Botan fell asleep listening to the songs.

The next day, Botan woke up to only hear laughter. She rubbed her eyes and saw that her flowers had once again closed up for the lack of moonlight. She sighed and then fell out of bed. "Ow!"

A few minutes later, Botan was dress and ready for the day. When she got downstairs, she was surprised to see Yusuke, Keiko, and Kuwabara already there.

Yusuke was the first to see her. "Well good afternoon sleepy head. I heard that someone didn't come home until late last night. Someone's being breaking curfew." He gave her a mischievous grin which caused Botan to blush.

"Well… I … you see, I … ITS AFTERNOON!" Botan looked outside to see that was indeed late in the afternoon and then looked pleadingly to Yukina. "Did Hiei…?"

Yukina shook her head and smiled reassuringly at the panicking ferry girl. "No, Hiei hasn't come yet."

Botan sighed with relief. But Yusuke wasn't done teasing her yet. He nudged at Kuwabara and said, "Did you hear that Kuwabara? Hiei didn't come early in the morning like he usually does. Maybe he was tired from all the activities that he's done yesterday with you-know-who."

"Yes. Activities such as that would leave people very tired." Kuwabara faked mused in a Kurama like fashion.

Both started to laugh hysterically. Botan and Keiko both turned red; the former because of embarrassment and the latter because of anger. Unable to control her anger any longer, Keiko smacked the two men.

"You two are so inconsiderate!" she sat back down and Botan joined her. Both were still red face. "So Botan, tells us what you and Hiei having been up to lately." She glared at the boys.

Botan eagerly told Keiko and Yukina about where's she's been and the present that Hiei gave her. She decided to leave out the part about the conversation she had with Mukuro, but she did tell them of the kiss.

"That is so sweet and romantic!" Keiko gushed. "On the next night when there's a full moon, I want to see the flowers when they bloom. I bet that you can't wait until you see him again."

Botan's heart started to beat faster. "Hai. I really want to thank him for the flower."

Suddenly Yukina got up and bowed apologetically to Botan. "I'm sorry. I forgot that you haven't eaten yet. Let me get you some food. You must be hungry."

"Oh no!" Botan got to her feet. "You don't have to. I'm not hungry."

"Are you sure Botan?" Yukina asked uncertain.

"Yes. Don't trouble yourself over me."

"Botan? Botan!" Koenma yelled at the screen for the tenth time. No one pick up from the other end of the communicator. Koenma made the volume for the beeping on the other side even higher. Still nothing.

"Damn it!" he slammed his fists onto his desk, causing some of the papers of fly away and Jorge to quickly scramble to catch them. He turned to Ayame and asked, "Are you sure?"

She looked at him solemnly. "Hai."

Koenma pushed a couple of buttons on his remote that he found in his side drawer and then a portal appeared. "Ayame, Jorge."

"Yes sir?" both chorused with Jorge pausing in mid air.

"Prepare the Restoration Room. I want it ready as fast as possible," Koenma said and then went into the portal.

Both of the workers of Reikai looked at one another worriedly.

"Damn it Botan, what have you gotten yourself into?" Koenma muttered to himself. The portal led to the front of Genkai's house.

Once he stepped out, he heard a small crash and people yelling "Botan!"

Koenma wasted no time in hurrying inside the house. Once there, he scanned the room and saw Yusuke and Kuwabara trying to figure out what was wrong with Botan who was lying on the floor with an expression of pain on her face, Keiko looking worriedly at her and not knowing what to do, Yukina rushing back into the room wit a bowl and a small folded cloth and Genkai at her heels, and finally Hiei, holding onto Botan's hand. Koenma also saw what the others didn't see; Botan screaming, trying to get away but at the same time, trying desperately to hold on.

"What's wrong with her?" Keiko asked.

No one knew how to answer her.

Hiei growled. He didn't know what to do. Botan's hand clutched tightly with his and her mouth open in a silent scream. "I'm going into her mind."

"No!" Koenma finally stepped in. He made a move to stop the Jagan wielder but it was too late. Hiei's Jagan began to glow and his mind forced its way into the ferry girl's. Botan's mind wasn't what Hiei expected. Inside he saw nothing but chaos of lights.Hefelt pain and heard screaming. Hiei couldn't make out what was being said, but he thought that he heard his name being called over and over again. The sound was too far away to comprehendand getting further. Then Hiei felt Botan's physical body thrashing and someone moving his own in an attempt to stop him from going any further into her mind.

Hiei grinded his teeth. He did not want to leave without first finding out what was causing the onna so much pain.

Outside, Koenma grinded his own teeth. Hiei stubbornly refused to get out of Botan's mind. He needed to know that he was causing more harm than good. Botan's body continued to thrash about. Kuwabara, Keiko and Yukina tried to hold Botan down but she kept moving.

"Hiei! Stop it! You're hurting her even more!" Koenma yelled into his ear.

Hiei didn't budge.

Seeing how Koenma was making sense, Yusuke punched Hiei in the face. "Would you stop! You aren't helping her!"

Hiei blinked, getting back into his mind. Then he growled. "And I suppose that you know what to do!"

Botan's body stopped moving but her face remained the same.

"Genkai, what's wrong with Botan?" Kuwabara asked.

"I don't know. I've never seen anything like this." Genkai looked over to Koenma. "Whatever it is that you have to do, do it."

Everyone else looked at him, but his eyes stayed focused on Botan and her hand that refused to let go of Hiei's hand.

"Botan," Koenma called to both Botan and his power. He grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her a little. His hands glowed with a golden color and went inside Botan. "Botan. Botan, do you hear me?"

Botan opened her eyes. They were cloudy and yet, the message of pain was written all over them. Her mouth started to slowly move and a small voice said, "Hiei…"

"I'm right here onna," Hiei held on to her hand tighter and tried to move Koenma so that she could see him, but Koenma wouldn't move.

"Hiei… Hiei…"

"Move Koenma!" Hiei snapped.

Koenma ignored him. "Botan, you must listen to me. Let go."

Botan shook her head. Her mouth mouthed, no.

"Botan, you have to," Koenma pressed on.

She shook her head again and Hiei felt her griping onto his hand as if it was her only hope. "Koenma, she said no! Is there another way to help her?"

"Botan, you have to let go," Koenma said sternly. He placed his head near hers.

"Botan, maybe you do as he says," Keiko said, frighten for her friend.

Tears started streaming down Botan's eyes while refusal told Koenma his answer.

"Let go," Koenma said more firmly this time. "Botan, you have to let go." His hands glowed brighter, causing everyone but Keiko to squint. Yukina and Hiei had to look away because of the holy power that radiated off of him.

As if heeding to Koenma's power, Botan let go of Hiei's hand. She let go of what she was holding on to. As a result, her body turned to dust and her soul was free.