J.J. - A new update– Huzzah! There isn't much to say, except updates will take a little longer due to the fact that tennis practice has begun for me. Unfortunately...

Also, this won't make sense now, but I have to commend an POTO author here at fanfiction... She has a marvelous talent for describing music, and I'm afraid that her writing greatly influences my own descriptions of notes and ballads. So, I now give props to the amazing, Mandy the O. n.n;


Chapter Five

The Esteemed Shopping Trip

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Despite the obvious stirring that the event of the bomb caused, life at Jaganshi Manor began to drift into a pattern once again. Botan still wasn't allowed to stay in her old room, but it was slowly getting fixed. Obviously, the previous shopping date had been postponed. The following Wednesday was the next time that Yusuke had time off to take them. Kurama, unfortunately, wouldn't be able to come, but he hadn't seemed too dismayed to be left out of a girls shopping day anyway.

Of course, by Wednesday Botan would only have to wait for a little over a week to get her paycheck, but her two friends had insisted that they needed a shopping day as badly as she did. She cleaned the top floor as always, minus her own room, and added a little extra fervor to her efforts. The faint after smells of the bomb were almost gone.

But by Monday afternoon, a whole three days after the bomb, something was still troubling her. Hiei had seemed to disappear. As much as she was around the top floor, she saw no trace of him. She'd catch glances of Kurama around, so she knew he couldn't be away at a conference or other business trip. And it was the weekend, he wouldn't have had to leave his house for anything business wise, without his assistant anyway.

His absence seemed to leave a hole in her day. She frowned contemplatively as she straightened books on the top shelf in the library. She was atop a ladder so she could reach adequately, her foot popped out as she stretched to reach a particularly far corner. She missed his company, surprisingly enough. Even when he so obviously didn't want hers. She heated unknowingly just thinking about how he had so rudely dismissed her on Friday.

Then again, rudely dismissing someone was just Hiei's style, so she knew she shouldn't feel offended. But she had thought he was starting to warm up to her a little bit. Obviously, she'd been wrong.

She stopped abruptly as she realized she'd scrubbed the same spot so many times she was almost wearing a hole into the wood. Frustrated with her own distracted demeanor, she began climbing down from the ladder. Without being able to see him at all, she found her thoughts constantly drifting to him. She could start out thinking about monkeys, and somehow, it would circle back to Hiei.

She could only conclude from her feelings that she actually missed him. Perhaps he had spoiled her with his presence, which was more than most of the staff could say, but she had looked forward to seeing him regardless. It was distressing to know how addicted she had become to his company.


Botan fumbled around in her bag, desperately looking for her rice face wash. It was her favorite, and it didn't come cheap. She only used it about once a week.

She sighed in exasperation, shutting the drawer shut again. Where could it be? She tried to remember the last time she'd used it. She'd taken a bath first–

That was it! She'd been living upstairs the last time she'd used it. It had to be in her old bathroom. She glanced warily at the clock. She'd been up late reading... it was now almost one o'clock in the morning. Then she remembered the only person she had to worry about waking up was Hiei, and even if he did hear her, he seemed so bent on avoiding her like the plague, he likely wouldn't say anything about it.

Decision made, she crept out of her bedroom, scurrying down the darkened hall in her slippers. She hugged her arms tightly. The mansion almost had an eery feel to it in the middle of the night, without all the usual hustle and bustle. Shaking off her creepy thoughts, she made her way through the main room and up the spiral staircase.

She paused at the door, reminding herself to be quiet, before entering the top floor. She gazed about the darkened hall, just in case, and started to tip toe towards the guest bathroom. She had only gotten ten feet when a soft sound came to her ears. She froze, not knowing what it was. It was so quiet, so undistinguishable, that she wasn't entirely sure that it wasn't just her own imagination.

But as she walked further down the hall, it became a little louder, more placeable. By the time she got to the two guest rooms (one marked with police tape) she recognized the sound for what it was. It was music. Now more curious then scared, she continued down the hall, passing by the bathrooms, knowing it couldn't be coming from there.

She lingered at Hiei's room, pressing her ear to the wood of the door, but it didn't sound like it was coming from his room either. The only other doors left were the three locked ones, the three forbidden rooms. The music was now very clear, despite being somewhat muffled by a closed door. It was a beautiful, passionate tune that shocked her very soul, the chords swelling powerfully and painting the cool air with sound.

She tested the volume by standing in the middle of the hall. She found that it was coming from the room diagonal to Hiei's own room. The last door in the hallway... the one on right, anyway. She walked to the door and silently tried the doorknob. It was locked. It disappointed her; she wanted to hear the music without the annoying barricade of the door. It was enchanting and held her riveted in place for a long while after. She didn't know how many hours she sat there with her head leaned against the wall, simply listening.

Had there been a reason for her coming here? Nothing that couldn't wait.

After a yawn stole her breath away, she realized how exhausted she was and reluctantly walked back to her room. On the way, she wondered who was in there playing what sounded like a piano. Was it Hiei? It seemed unlikely. Or had it been a CD... something to get someone to relax and sleep? She doubted that. She couldn't have fallen asleep listening to it, just because she wanted to listen to it. She'd have to find out who played the piano in the mansion...


"Why so down?" Shizuru asked with a poke to Botan's side, Keiko on her other side. The three girls were seated comfortably at the back of the limo, purses in hand. They were headed to the largest mall in the city, intending on spending the rest of their afternoon there.

Two days later and Botan had only caught a glimpse of Hiei once or twice, and she was lucky to get a terse nod out of him. That combined with the downright captivating music she'd heard again last night and she could easily say her mind was distracted. "Nothing," she sighed. She smiled slightly. "I mean, nothing that a good shopping spree can't cure." Seeing that Keiko and Shizuru wanted a more elaborate explanation, she said, "You see... I sort of feel... boring,you know?"

"Boring?" Keiko echoed. "Botan, you're not boring!"

"Yeah, just look at the color of your hair," Shizuru snickered, teasingly flicking a lock of it that was trapped in Botan's usual ponytail. Keiko glared at her. She held up her hands defensively. "Joking - I was joking!"

Keiko rolled her eyes. She turned towards the driver's area where the privacy wall was let down. "Yusuke, Botan isn't boring, is she?"

Yusuke glanced suspiciously at her from the rearview mirror. "This isn't a trap, is it? I don't want you yelling at me when I say she's–"

"Spare me," Keiko interrupted in exasperation, her eyes lifted heavenward.

Kuwabara, seated in the passenger's seat, turned to grin back at the girls. He'd been invited mostly for Yusuke's sake, so the poor chauffeur didn't have to endure all three girls and the mall alone. "You just feel that way because you've worn the same clothes again and again, Botan."

And because a certain wealthy bachelor won't give me a second glance.

She smiled weakly, a light blush rinsing her cheeks. "You're probably right. But really, guys, it's no big deal."

"Sure it is," Shizuru argued. Her eyes glinted mischievously. "In fact, it gives us the perfect excuse to pick you out a flamboyant outfit and drag you into a salon for a make-over!"

"What? No!"

Keiko and Shizuru exchanged equally mischievous looks. "Oh, yes."

Botan groaned.


The first part of the trip had been enjoyable, she had to admit that. She gotten five new pair of stylish, yet conventional, pants, and a dozen different shirts, all styled differently, but remaining feminine and cute. She felt like a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

Then they came to Clarissa's. A fancy, chic store that had been known to have several celebrity customers. They walked in, Botan feeling more uneasy by the second, and Kuwabara lifted the price tag on one of the dresses. "Yeesh... you're definitely paying us back for this one, Botan..."

"You're so cheap," Shizuru said, tracing fingers appreciatively over the silk and cashmere fabrics. "It's just one outfit anyway."

"I don't know about this," Botan felt the need to argue.

"Too late."

Keiko and Shizuru ushered her into one of the dressing rooms before going off to investigate the store, piling their choices into Yusuke and Kuwabara's arms.

"I thought you said one outfit," Kuwabara grumbled beneath the load of fabric in his arms.

"I did," Shizuru said as she thumbed through some feminine, white blouses. "Which one is what we're determining here."

She chose one and set it atop the ever growing pile, Kuwabara grumbling something indecipherable. They came back to the dressing rooms, Keiko and Yusuke meeting them there with their own choices. Or, Keiko's choices, in other words.

"Botan, you ready?" Keiko called.

Botan opened the door and peered out. "It's about time, how many . . . holy cow!" She gaped at the two large piles of clothes. "How many of those do you expect me to try on!"

Keiko grinned at her and pushed a red dress into her arms. "All of them!"

"But–"

"Chop, chop!"

Botan sighed in defeat and closed the door. Yusuke stood to his feet. "I'll be right back." No one had time to question his actions before he walked out of the dressing room.

A few seconds later, they heard Botan's exasperated cry. "Argh! I am not coming out with this thing on."

"Botan," Keiko chided carefully.

"I look like a retarded fire-truck!"

"Alright. Here, try this one." She flung a gray, cashmere suit piece over the door.

They waited, hearing the rustling of shifting fabric and seeing Botan's shadow across the bottom opening of the door. A few seconds later, Yusuke returned, popcorn in hand. Keiko and Shizuru rolled their eyes, but Kuwabara sent him a grateful look. Yusuke plopped next to him and he shoved a handful of popcorn in his mouth. "That's my man, Urameshi. Always thinkin' ahead."

The dressing room door opened and Botan stepped out in the suit. She held open her arms. "Well?"

"Too sophisticated."

"People will think you're in the company, not cleaning it."

"Yusuke!"

"Ouch!"

Botan sighed and stomped back into the dressing room. She came out with the next one, a blue cocktail dress.

"Whoa."

"It's um... well..."

"My eyes, they burn..."

"Yusuke!"

"I hate it," Botan stated bluntly, looking disgustedly at the outrageously puffed up sleeves. She snatched a cream colored outfit from Shizuru's pile and went back into the dressing room to change again.

For the next two hours, this routine continued, the two once large piles slowly depleting. Her four friends got to the point where they simply held up signs that ranged between ten and zero, judging their opinions for them. They had to put negatives on a few of them.

Finally, two empty piles of clothes and popcorn bowls later, Botan emerged looking very hopeful. "I really like this one..."

Keiko gasped. "Oh, Botan! It's lovely!"

"You look ravishing!" Shizuru agreed in her own typical fashion.

By the looks on Yusuke and Kuwabara's faces, they agreed, but Yusuke didn't say anything in fear of getting slapped by Keiko. However, Kuwabara was more than happy to let out a deserving whistle. "Wow."

She beamed, blushing prettily. "I'll change so we can go buy it." She walked back into the dressing room, shutting the door with a click behind her. She sighed and gazed at herself in the mirror. It was a one-pieced dress, a soft tranquil shade of blue that complimented her hair. Complimented meaning it made it stand out and shine. It had only one sleeve on the left, leaving her right shoulder bare, but it held up high enough that she didn't feel indecent. The material gathered and pulled from the sleeve diagonally across her breasts in a way that made them look more voluptuous and desirable then Botan believed they were. It then tightened around her bodice and curved over her waistline and hips, tight enough to show off her curves, but loose enough to be comfortable. She sighed, running her hands along her waistline, wishing she had more curves then she did. The material then flowed out freely, ending a little ways below her knee. The right side, deliberately opposite her sleeve, was gathered above her knee. The intricate design pattern and folds made it look elegant and graceful, while at the same time looking casual and fun.

They paid for the dress, a whopping $900 dollars, and proceeded to the shoe store where they bought her a pair of alluring, 'I-am-woman' heels. Botan thought the leather lace-up that went halfway up her calf was too risque, but Shizuru talked her into them in the end. They then went to a jewelry store where they found a simple set of sapphire earrings and necklace. They were fake, of course. Botan wouldn't let them pay for the highly expensive authentic ones. They still looked good, she'd argued, and they had to agree. It set off the look perfectly, the stones being a shade just a few tones darker than her hair and dress.

After they were done, Keiko and Shizuru made Botan put everything on before they literally dragged her into a salon. The boys couldn't help because the two plotting girls had made them stay outside ("You'll get to see the final outcome when we're done.")

"Come on," Botan protested against their tugs. "I feel good enough wearing all of this. A makeover is not necessary." She'd never been the type to feel completely comfortable with getting dolled up. As far as she remembered, she hadn't even worn make-up at the mansion, and her hair was almost always in a ponytail.

"Just this once," Keiko pleaded with a slight pout.

"You'll love it," Shizuru insisted with a twinkle in her eye.

In the end, Botan couldn't turn them down. A skinny looking man with a pointed goatee approached them and Keiko explained what they wanted. She also mentioned, under Botan's pointed glare, that Botan didn't want to change anything, she just wanted to get made-up.

"Wow," the man breathed. He clasped his hands in pure delight, obviously pleased to be working on such a project as the one before him. "That dress looks stunning on you. You already look so fabulous - it will be my pleasure to transform you into a delectable piece of feminine beauty that no man will be able to turn down."

Botan smiled weakly; she had to admit that his words had an excited effect on her. No man? Not even a reclusive, grouchy millionaire? She wanted to hit herself. She didn't want to do this just in the hopes of impressing Hiei. She'd look good, and would therefore feel good. It had nothing to do with him, nor would it ever.

Just keep saying that to yourself.

Keiko and Shizuru sat down with hair magazines, each grinning with unconstrained excitement. The man tucked a comb behind his ear. "Okay, I'm Raphael, and we're going to start..." He surveyed her quickly. "With your hands." He grabbed one of them and held it near his face. "They're so rough, and your nails!"

He shook his head in disbelief and Botan blushed a little. They were cleaning hands. Cleaning products and hard scrubbing made them that way. Raphael rubbed a thick, peppermint smelling cream into them. "Let that sit. We'll wash it off with exfoliations before you leave."

He then proceeded to work on her nails. She insisted she didn't want any color on them, much to his disappointment (he had sparkles set out and everything), but he did polish and shine them to the extent that Botan hardly recognized them. When he was finished, she held out her hand, gasping in delight. Apart from the oily cream that smothered her hands, they looked like something she'd never seen them look before. They looked delicate. Pretty, even.

"Now, hair," Raphael said bluntly, obviously not going to admire his handy work like she was doing. "Gizelle!" He clapped his hands and a robust looking woman with bleach-blonde hair and bright red lipstick came hurrying over. "You were work on hair, I'll start on make-up."

Botan was glad that he would be doing her make-up. She didn't particularly want someone who did their make-up like Gizelle did doing her own. The next thing she knew, a brush was being tugged through her hair with another, lighter brush being swept across her face. More than once, Raphael snapped at her to hold still, but it was hard with one person tugging at her head and the other poking her in the eye with mascara. She wished she could see Keiko and Shizuru, to know if they looked approving... or frightened.

Her face didn't feel much different until he applied the lip gloss and she realized she could hardly talk without tasting it in her mouth. But her hair felt all together weird. Gizelle kept adding so many different mousses and hair sprays, she thought it a wonder it wasn't standing straight up.

After what seemed like an eternity, they both ceased in their actions and Raphael sighed proudly, wiping a stray tear. He sniffed. "You are... perfect!"

He spun her around where she came face to face with Keiko and Shizuru. Keiko's eyes widened. Shizuru's jaw dropped.

Botan frowned. "Oh no... it's bad, isn't it?"

"Yo-You're beautiful," Keiko finally whispered.

Not as dramatic as Keiko, Shizuru broke into applause. "Ha ha! Mission accomplished! It's weird to see you with your hair down and with make-up, but you look great." She pointed to the mirror at Botan's side. "Take a look."

Botan paused, a little nervous. She wanted to look nice, but she didn't want to look like she had so much foundation and hair spray that you could hardly recognize her. Slowly, she turned in her chair. The reflection that met her, she was relieved to find, was her own... and it made her positively giddy. She gasped.

"Oh my– Is that me!" She sprung to her feet and almost pressed her nose to the mirror she was so close to. She laughed nervously, placing a hand on the reflective surface.

Raphael had done an amazing job, exactly what they asked for. Her face looked exactly the same, only... better. Everything seemed enhanced. The qualities she liked about herself, namely her eyes and narrow chin, seemed to stand out. Her complexion had never been bad, but now it looked very near flawless. Nothing, much to her relief, seemed gaudy or overdone.

Her hair was the only thing different, but that was only because she was so used to seeing it pulled up. It fell loosely past her shoulders, her usually rebellious bangs tamed. All that stuff she had been so worried about in her hair apparently made it shine a lot more than it usually did. And with the dress...

If she had thought it had complimented her hair before, it was nothing compared to what they looked like together now. She squealed. "I love it!"

Raphael beamed as if he'd just won a Nobel prize. "I'm so happy to hear it, mademoiselle."

Keiko giggled and grabbed her arm. "Come on, let's go show the guys!"

Botan nodded eagerly and they proceeded to walk out the door, but Raphael stopped them with an anxious, "Wait!" They turned back to him curiously. "The hand cream," he explained. "You need to wash it off."

He led Botan to a sink where he washed the cream off with warm water and a small exfoliating mixture of sugar and, much to Botan's delight, vanilla. He patted her hands dry with a towel and she examined them after he was done.

She sucked in a breath. "Keiko, Shizuru! Come here, feel my hands!"

Bewildered, they approached her, running fingers across her hands. Keiko gasped. "They're like silk!"

All three of them knew what a rare thing it was to have soft hands being a maid. After gushing over it a few seconds longer, they finally left the store, but not before Shizuru bought a bottle of both the cream and the exfoliating mixture. She promised to share with Keiko and Botan.

Once into the wide hall of the mall, they spotted Yusuke and Kuwabara sitting languidly across one of the public benches. Kuwabara yawned. "About time, what took you ... you ... so long..." He trailed off, eyes widening as the three girls came into view, but his gaze was mainly riveted on Botan.

She felt a sense of boldness overtake her and she struck a vogue like pose. "Well?"

The whistles and cat-calls she received didn't come from Yusuke and Kuwabara alone. Many men passing by had felt the need to express their appreciation as well. She blushed and Kuwabara glared at them. "Look at her again and I'll beat your ass to within an inch of mud."

Usually such a comment would have gotten him a scolding from his older sister, but she was glaring at the hormone-induced males as well. Anyone that had been looking shrugged and went on their way, assuming that Kuwabara was her boyfriend or some other claiming role in her life.

Yusuke and Kuwabara stood to their feets, Botan's earlier purchases in hand, and walked to the girls. "Ladies," Yusuke approved with a wide grin. "Nice work. Ow!"

Botan laughed at his teasing. "I actually am glad I went along with this crazy plan."

Shizuru yawned. "Anyone else hungry?"

"For Kuwabara's cooking, I am," Botan said.

He grinned. "Well then, no need to keep those tummies rumbling any longer. Let's go back."


As they walked back into the large mansion, Botan sighed. It felt good to be back, even if they'd only been gone for the afternoon. The whole place was flashy, expensive, and altogether rather intimidating, but you grew attached to it. Just like Hiei.

Their procession passed by the stairs, heading for the kitchen instead. They'd almost reached the hallway when they heard a familiar voice.

Kurama sounded irritated. "I don't know why you're moodier than usual, but if you don't stop brooding around, I'm going–"

He stopped talking as he came out the hallway they were ten feet away from entering. He smiled upon seeing them. "Hey. How was your shopping trip?"

"Excellent," Shizuru said eagerly. "We dressed Botan up, for once." Her tone was accusing, but the sparkle in her eyes let Botan know she was teasing. "Check her out."

Kurama turned expectant eyes towards her, the other four stepping aside so he could get a better look. She smiled and not able to resist the urge, spun around gracefully to model. Only when she had already started to twirl did she see Hiei emerge from the hall. She came around to face them again and her eyes immediately locked with his. His scarlet ones darkened with a mixture of anger, hatred, self-loathing and something unknown that she hesitated to call what she thought might be desire. She was aware of Kurama saying something to her, but she couldn't seem to break her gaze with Hiei.

Apparently, Hiei hadn't heard Kurama either, because the red-head roughly grabbed his shoulder, shaking both him and Botan out of their trance. "I said, don't you think?"

The subtle confusion that passed through his eyes was enough to confirm Botan's suspicion that they'd both temporarily left their surroundings. Of course, asking a simple 'What did you say?' was too disgraceful for Hiei, so he managed a tense smirk and said. "Of course."

He shrugged out of Kurama's hold and walked past them all, heading towards the stairs. "Now if you'd all excuse me..." His voice was gruff and he shoved his hands into his coat pockets, taking the steps two at a time. He disappeared into the hallway before Botan could blink.

Her heart crashed to the floor. She hadn't realized how much she'd hoped to impress him until she'd watched him leave as soon as he could. It hadn't worked. Perhaps he just plain, flat-out hated her?


J.J. - Alas... Hiei... Never can show his feelings that well. -.-;

(Next Chapter: Demons?)