J.J. - I need a serious beta-reader, or something. I spend far too long reading over my chapters, and I get so used to them, I don't catch all the errors. -growl-
Chapter Eight
Jealousy and Invites
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It was morning. She couldn't recall the last time she'd felt so completely rested. As far as she could remember, she hadn't dreamt at all. Just a deep, replenishing slumber.
She sniffed and inhaled deeply, chasing away the just-woke-up fatigue still riddling her mind. She looked down at herself… then blinked in surprise.
Why had she gone to bed in her clothes?
She sat there for a long moment, trying to remember what had caused her to forget to change into her pajamas. Then it struck her... she couldn't remember even getting ready for bed. Panic filled her as she tried to recall dinner, her usual time with Keiko and Shizuru... and couldn't.
She clenched her eyes shut and tried to recall the last thing she remembered. A sigh of relief filled her when she remembered yesterday morning. She'd had a horrible night, filled with nightmares and...
Wait...
Horrible night. She'd been tired, very tired. And she'd . . . taken sleeping pills. That hadn't turned out how she thought. She vaguely remembered Hiei, his room...
What in the world had happened?
Dazed, she crawled out of bed, walking to the door. She paused upon realizing how wrinkled and body-soiled her clothes looked. She quickly shed her clothes and pulled on some fresh ones. Simple jogging pants and a white tank-top suited her fine for now. She realized she didn't know where her white tennis shoes were, but she opted for a pair of slip ons instead.
She ran down the hall, whipping around the corner and nearly colliding with Yusuke. She would have tumbled right to the ground if he hadn't caught her arms and steadied her. "Whoa, Botan." He laughed. "Finally got up did you?" Botan gave him a disconcerted look. "Mr. Jaganshi told everyone to let you sleep."
"What time is it?" she asked.
"A little after eleven."
"What?" she raged. Why would Hiei let her sleep in that late? She was usually up at six thirty so she could eat at seven and get started by at least eight. She needed to find him and get some answers. She removed herself from Yusuke's grasp and started to run down the hall again. "I need to go!"
Yusuke raised an eyebrow, watching her go. "Okay..."
She entered the top floor, but stopped abruptly as she heard voices. She recognized Kurama's soothing voice and, as she neared closer, Hiei's strong, cool voice. And another, which she didn't recognize. It was female.
They were in the entertainment room. She walked closer and peered into the ajar door. Inside, Hiei and a pretty young girl with teal hair and a kind smile were sitting on one couch, and she assumed Kurama was on the other. She couldn't see because the door wasn't opened wide enough.
Her stomach did a convulsing flip as Hiei placed his arm on the girl's shoulder, gazing at her with adoration in his eyes. Not something she had ever seen him exhibit towards anyone before. The girl gently placed a hand on his cheek and said, "You spoil me, Hiei."
He spoiled her? She knew if she ever tried to show such a tender gesture towards Hiei, he'd recoil at her touch, and she'd ruin the peaceful expression that was now on his face. Then, he did the most surprising thing of all. He laughed. Not out loud, split-side laughter, just a soft chuckle that he barely had to raise the corners of his lips for. But it was honest and sincere.
"Only you," he said in a tone she'd never heard him use before either. He bent towards her and softly kissed her cheek, earning himself a playful giggle.
She could watch no more. She brusquely turned on her heel and walked as quickly as her legs could carry her to the end of the hall. She wouldn't give the situation respect by running from it. As she brisked down the steps of the staircase, she tried to place the emotion that was seeming to erupt in hot flashes before her eyes. Was it jealousy? Sorrow? Pain? Contempt?
All of it.
But less contempt. She was jealous of the pretty girl, who had so perfectly won over Hiei's affections, something she hadn't believed possible before. But she couldn't hate her. She'd like to hate her, but after seeing her innocent and sweet face, she knew she couldn't.
Only you...
The words were seared painfully in her mind. She'd been foolish to think that Hiei had felt anything for her beyond that of an employer to his employee. Vain in her ideals. But what would possess her to think anything of that sort in the first place? Hiei certainly didn't offer any type of kindness or special care in her direction.
Or did he?
She paused to think of the brief subtleties he'd shown that made her believe he held a more compassionate side. A side which she might be able to bring to surface, towards her even. She knew now, more than ever, that it did exist. He'd shown it towards that woman in the entertainment room.
A part of her wanted to fight for his attention. They weren't married. She still had a chance.
But a larger part of her said she wouldn't have had a chance, even if the girl wasn't in the picture. And more importantly, her compassionate side didn't want to steal that relationship away from him. He'd seemed happy around her. Would she really ruin that for her own selfish reasons?
She knew she'd never be able to.
But still...
She could feel her rebellious side warming up as she strode back towards the top floor. She'd be cleaning Hiei's room extra good today...
Botan slammed the vase down. She slammed her rag down on the surface. And then she slammed the vase again as she put it back in place. It was a wonder anything didn't break. Once her initial pain had subsided, her mood had taken a rather nasty turn. Now she was feeling a bitter resentment take hold of her.
"Who keeps a vase in their room anyway?" she said curtly to herself. "I bet if I broke it, he wouldn't even notice. Has he even noticed it? Probably not." She scrubbed the dresser she was working at harder. "Probably doesn't notice anything beyond his own nose and pretty-colored hair. Jerk." She was now scrubbing so hard her arm muscles ached.
"Are you insulting my furniture?" asked an amused voice.
She jumped in surprise, turning to see Hiei in the doorway. Her eyes narrowed before she could stop them. "What are you doing here?"
He raised an eyebrow at her callous tone. "This is my room."
"Ah," she gave a forced smile. "I forgot. This is your room." She turned back to her cleaning. "And I'm cleaning. That's what I do. Clean things." She moved on to his bed where she gently ripped off the bedspread. "I'm a maid, you know. Oh wait," She turned and shot him a positively evil smile. "Of course you know. I'm your maid." She yanked the next blanket off.
Hiei cautiously approached her, watching as the tossed blanket landed near his feet. What was she playing at?
"Botan..."
She turned to face him. "Yes, Mis-ter Jaganshi?"
She had worn his patience down. He crossed his arms across his chest and narrowed his eyes. "What's your problem?"
"Problem?" She brought a hand to her chest in surprise. "Problem, Mr. Jaganshi, I have no problem. I love my job. I love cleaning. And I especially love you." She walked to him and pinched his cheek while wrinkling her own nose childishly. She let go and giggled. "See?"
He growled and gripped her upper arms tightly. He wanted to shake some sense into her, but he resisted the urge. "Stop it! What the hell is wrong with you?"
She glared at him icily. "As I just said, nothing is wrong with me. Now release me before I'm tempted to hand you in for assault on employees."
The look he sent her would have withered flowers, but he slowly relinquished his hold, taking a step back. He was fuming and she could tell. An unkempt rage in the back of his eyes belied any false pretenses that he was merely amused. One false move and she'd likely be fired, but she turned away from him with a haughty flip of her hair nonetheless. "Thank you."
She began pulling off the sheets and he strode up behind her. "Well, since this is my room and you're my maid," he spoke in a mocking tone, emphasizing the fact that she worked for him. "I think it's my privilege to watch you."
She didn't say anything, but she felt her insides freeze up a little. What had she gotten herself into?
"Glad to see you're awake," he remarked casually, placing his hands behind his back as he stalked to the other side of the bed. "Those were some pretty heavy sleeping pills you took."
"Were they?" She replied just as casually, if not sounding a tad air-headish.
She began to take off a pillow, but he stopped her by placing his hands on the opposite end of the pillow. She tried to jerk it free, but he held fast. Determined not to be the one to let go, she glared at him from across the bed. With the width of a king-sized bed, they were both bent at the waist, stretched over to hold onto the pillow.
"Those were my pills," he said harshly.
"Well how was I to know that?" she snapped.
His face, if possible, became angrier at her obvious pretend stupidity. "Let's see," he said in a biting, sarcastic voice. "A, no one else lives on the top floor. B, it was in my bathroom. C, it had my name on it!"
She reddened and yanked particularly hard on the pillow. He let her take it with a confused glare and she threw it to the ground, storming towards the door. He propelled himself to the other side of the bed and ran, blocking her path with his body. She retreated a step backwards, surprised at his speed.
As she looked at him, she silently regretted her decision to take her jealousy out on him. She'd forgotten how utterly frightening he could become. He was tense; waves of frustration flowing off of him so powerfully, they were almost visible. She raised her chin to defy him with a glare again, but found she didn't quite have the stomach, or the heart. She lowered her gaze.
"Oh no you don't," he said. "Don't get all docile with me now." When she glanced up, but still refused to say anything, he clenched his fists to hold in his anger. "What? Now that I'm really angry you've decided to stop acting like a stuck up little–"
"Ooh!" Her eyes flew up to meet his and she bared her teeth before reaching up and shoving him hard. He was so surprised, he actually stumbled backwards a few steps. His jaw was hanging open in pained shock, but she continued to advance on him. "I don't believe you! Just let me admit defeat and move on! Why do you even care! I'm your maid, Hiei! Just - your - maid!"
"No you're not!" he argued hotly, gripping her flailing hands by her wrists. Her features softened a little at his words. "You're so . . . impossible. This isn't about the stupid sleeping pills. I don't care! You don't care – I know you don't... Would you please just tell me what's really bothering you?"
She stared up at him, breathing cautiously, thinking out her next words. She found it became a harder task to think when he was so close to her. It was the first time she'd ever heard Hiei raise his voice. Sure, he insulted, degraded and was often angry, but he just wasn't the type to openly yell. Such emotion, such perseverance... everything seemed to point that he did care. He cared.
But he cared more about that girl, and that meant he was leading her on. Deceiving her to believe she really was more than a maid to him, but she knew she wasn't. She averted her gaze and answered his question with one of her own. "Why do you care?" The same question as before, but this time there was no way to not see that she was referring to herself.
He didn't answer immediately, but she felt him tense, his grip shifting on her wrists, becoming more gentle. After a moment, he said quietly, "You could at least look at me."
She thought it a very clever way to skirt around the question, but she wouldn't look up. It was imperative that she still be able to think properly.
"Hiei, look." She sighed in resign. "Would you let go?" He released her without a word, and backed away, his shoulders stiff, his body awkward.
Now that she had some distance and she couldn't feel his imposing force quite so vividly, she looked back up at him. He looked so torn, troubled, a tight frown upon his features. She squared her shoulders and took a breath. "I don't think your girlfriend would really appreciate this conversation we're having."
The expression he gave was almost comical and she had to remind herself that this was no laughing matter to keep from letting loose a giggle. "Girlfriend?" he echoed quietly.
"Yes," she said, although she wasn't quite so sure of herself anymore. He seemed to genuinely have no idea what she was talking about. "That little teal-haired beauty with you earlier."
Slowly, his eyes dawned with recognition. She almost felt disappointed that he'd remembered her. "So, if you'll excuse me, I think now you can understand my sentiments." Her voice had regained the same biting snap it had acquired earlier. She moved to walk around him and out the door, but he stepped in her path once again.
She looked at him in exasperation. What did he want now? His sinful lips were curved into a smirk, his expression looking as smug as she'd ever seen him. "I know what this is about," he said coyly.
"So do I." She moved to get around him again. "Now move."
He stopped her with a hand to her shoulder. "You're jealous."
As if she needed the reminder. She blushed furiously. "I am not jealous."
He chuckled and leaned closer to her. "Oh, but I think you are."
She opened her mouth to argue, but his close proximity allowed her to breathe his scent and she momentarily lost her train of thought. Shakily, she glared up at him, while trying to glare down at him. "And I think you're a little full of yourself."
His smirk widened. "Her name's Yukina."
She pursed her lips, determined not to lose her temper, again.
"She's beautiful, smart, independent and has the most caring heart of anyone I've ever met."
"If you're trying to make me angry, it isn't working." She tried to remain indifferent, even though if truth be told, it was making her angry. She wanted to slap him. "Because, I don't care. Because I don't care about who you date, or even if you're dating."
His hand had never left her shoulder and he now pulled her forward slightly. Her eyes widened and she tried to resist against his grip, but he was too strong. Now dangerously close to her face, he gave her a wicked grin. "And want to know the best part about her?"
"Not particularly," she managed to grumble.
His grin subsided into a barely amused curl of the lips, his eyes softening somewhat. "She's my sister." His voice had lost it's smug, proud quality and she could see the sincerity in his eyes. He was telling the truth.
Her jaw literally dropped in surprise. She stared up at him, blinking as she tried to process what he had just said. "S-Sister?" She blushed, wishing she could rewind the entire previous fifteen minutes. She'd made an idiot out of herself and to the worst person to be an idiot in front of.
Hiei, however, was lapping up her misery like a thirsty puppy. "Now, what could make you jealous of my dear sister?"
She shrugged out of his grasp, wishing she could find something witty to retort at him, but her mind was still reasonably boggled. "I told you before–"
"I think you like me."
He had no idea. She gave a half-hearted glare before slowly smirking with a look that rivaled his own cocky one. "Well anyone who's willing to stick around and get insults thrown at them just to find out why I'm in a bad mood likes me pretty well, too. Don't you think?"
He glared, obviously not liking the comment thrown back at him. His jaw tightened as his glare yielded into an annoyed look. "Well, good. I guess we've established that we both like each other then."
"I guess so." She raised an amused eyebrow.
He didn't say anything in return, slowly sliding his hands into his pockets. He was never surprised. And having a conversation that he had no idea where it was going the entire time was a very unusual event for him. But it hadn't turned out entirely bad. The knowledge of Botan getting jealous over Yukina filled him with a ridiculous sense of male pride. As horrendously pitiful as that was.
"I'm sorry, Hiei."
He started a little, shifting his gaze to her. Her dismal tone of voice was unexpected. "For what?"
"For taking your pills and putting you through that trouble, for snapping at you... and yelling at you."
Her completely self-discriminating stature was down right pitiful. It almost made him feel guilty. He didn't like it, especially directed towards him. "Fine. But don't ever do that again."
"Do what?"
"Apologize."
She chuckled softly, giving him a confused look. "If you say so."
He was silent for a long while after, but Botan didn't dare say anything to break the silence. He appeared to be thinking very hard about something. Finally, he glanced at her again. "Actually, I think I'm pretty angry about the pills."
He what?
"You were out for a long time. Time that you should have been working."
She couldn't argue there. "Er... well, I suppose that's true. I would have been awake if I could have."
"But you weren't."
She was completely confused by his sudden scolding antics. Hadn't he just said he didn't care... several times? She raised an eyebrow, trying to gauge his expression, but the cold facade was practically impenetrable. She would have known.
"What do you want from me? Overtime?"
"Excellent idea." He regarded her praisingly.
Everything seemed completely natural; casual talk and totally normal expressions. But that's what was bothering her. When he was in complete control of the conversation, of his words and the meaning, he was usually acting. When he wasn't, his face was always in some sort of scowl or glare or smirk. Such light antics as these could only mean he was trying to convey fake feelings. But why? She couldn't figure out what he was getting at.
"Why don't you just get it over and done with, say . . . tonight?"
"Um... okay?"
"Good."
Botan stopped him from walking out the door with a hand on his arm, wanting more of an explanation then that. "What am I doing? Cleaning extra rooms?"
"No," he said curtly. "You'll be accompanying me on an ... excursion, out of the mansion."
She raised a disbelieving eyebrow. "And what will I be doing on this 'excursion'?"
"Working for me," he replied calmly.
"I see..." She frowned contemplatively. She eyed him carefully before a bemused half-smile appeared on her lips, her eyes twinkling mischievously.
Hiei noticed with an a disgruntled frown. "What?"
"I must say, that is the most interesting way anyone has ever asked me out on a date before."
"It's not a date," he snapped hotly in argument and looked away, but Botan didn't miss the soft pink tinge that entered his cheeks.
She was more than happy to echo his previously smug attitude. "Oh, but I think it is."
He looked back at her with an annoyed glare. Removing her hand off his arm, he replied cooly, "In your dreams, honey."
She wasn't deterred by this comment. "I think it's your dreams, honey, since you're the one that asked."
"I didn't. This is your overtime."
"But who suggested me doing overtime?"
"You," he said after a moment with a satisfied smirk.
"And who mapped out the entire conversation just to get me to say it?" She leaned in closer. "Hm?"
She knew she'd caught him when he frowned and backed away from her, cheeks reddening in a flustered manner. He probably hadn't thought many people knew what he was doing in those oh-so-casual conversations. But having him constantly on her mind for the past three weeks certainly hadn't left her empty handed. She knew him a lot better than he could ever imagine.
"Well then." She purposely batted her eyelashes at him. "I'll see you tonight."
And with that, she blew him a kiss and walked out of the room.
Kurama cleared his throat loudly to gain attention in the room. Four pairs of eyes turned towards him. At the expectant pause, he grinned deviously. "I've come across some news you all might be interested in."
Yusuke, Kuwabara, Shizuru and Keiko all gave him curious looks, but it was Shizuru who said, "What is it?"
"Due to certain circumstances, Mr. Jaganshi will be attending the Moonlight Banquet tonight." He paused for dramatic tension. "And guess who he's taking?"
Confused looks were shared, but finally Keiko's expression lit up in understanding. "No!"
"What?" Yusuke asked.
"Yes." Kurama laughed.
Keiko squealed. "Shut up! I knew it!"
"What?" Yusuke repeated.
Shizuru glanced between Kurama and Keiko, eyebrow raised. "You're not saying..." She trailed off and sent a questioning look at her brunette friend.
Keiko nodded vigorously. "Oh yeah!"
Shizuru gasped. "Get out!"
"Somebody tell me what's going on!" Yusuke snapped in exasperation.
Shizuru laughed loudly. "I totally knew it! I knew it!"
"As if it weren't obvious," Kurama agreed with a low chuckle.
"God, I know," Shizuru said, "She goes into day-dream relapse mode every time we mention his name."
Keiko, Shizuru and Kurama all laughed together. Yusuke growled and turned to face Kuwabara. "Are you as confused as I am?"
Kuwabara gave no response, staring into mid-air as if in some type of love-struck trance. Yusuke snapped his fingers in front of his face, but it proved uneffective. "Hey, been to earth lately, Kuwabara?"
Kuwabara continued to gaze into something no one else could see, but he sighed loudly, happily. "Hiei is going to the banquet."
Yusuke dropped his hand, giving Kuwabara a dumbfounded look. "Come again?" Kuwabara only lapsed into his previous dazed expression.
"Hey," Shizuru laughed, breaking away from the previous conversation, "What's with my baby bro?"
"Hell if I know," Yusuke muttered, still looking at Kuwabara. After a moment, he shook his head and turned to stick Shizuru, Keiko and Kurama with an annoyed glare. "Now will you guys please tell me who Hiei asked to the banquet?"
Keiko got a mischievous twinkle in her eyes before replying, "Oh you'll find out tonight. You're driving them."
"What?" Yusuke frowned in aggravation. "I can't wait that long!"
"Yukina, my love," Kuwabara suddenly sprang to his feet, his voice practically singing, "All by yourself tonight, with no over-protective grouchy brother, also my employer, to get in the way! Oh, joyous day!"
Shizuru rolled her eyes. "We should have known..."
As if to prove her point, Kuwabara flounced out of the room in a light skip.
"Looking pretty spiffy, boss."
Hiei shot him an irritated glare. "Keep your comments to yourself, Urameshi, or you won't have a job." They were both standing outside near the limo they'd be taking to the banquet, parked by the front entrance.
"You got it, sir." Yusuke saluted. Much like Kurama, Hiei's threats to fire him were pretty much nothing but air Hiei released from his mouth. He knew this, but he wouldn't pressure his luck by saying anything further.
"You should know," Hiei suddenly said, "that the Toguro brothers will be at the banquet." Yusuke tensed. "There is no saying that anything will happen, but if it does, I'd like you handy."
Yusuke's face grew grave. "Of course." Any matter concerning the Toguros was not something to be taken lightly. Although only a human, he was almost as strong as Kurama and Hiei, and he had assisted with such things before on numerous occasions, specifically on a full moon. The full moon wasn't for another two nights, but that didn't mean the Toguros would sit back and wave while it wasn't.
"So..." Yusuke glanced at his watch in exaggeration. "Should we go pick up your date?" Curiosity had been killing him, to say the least, and he was eager to finally figure out who the mystery girl was.
Hiei's lips curled into a snarl and he glared. "Don't be a smart ass."
Before Yusuke could protest that although that was a usual quality for him, he hadn't mean it in any way but serious, Hiei turned and walked back into the mansion. Yusuke gaped after him. "Coming back?" he questioned into the night air. He let his shoulders droop in confusion and he shook his head. Typical Hiei behavior..
Hiei walked up the stairs and headed down the hall he knew Botan's room was located. He tried to drive away the distinct awkwardness that seemed to come with the prospect of taking Botan anywhere, but it was proving to be fruitless. He had tried to convince himself with his own argument, that she was simply working as an employee, but her own taunting came back to him.
"I must say, that is the most interesting way anyone has ever asked me out on a date before."
He swore under his breath, damning the entire concept of the word 'date'. He could only hope that the night would be over and done with as soon as possible. Not because it would be miserable. Oh no, he wishedit was as simple as that. He knew that the only formal dress Botan could possibly own would be the blue one she had worn the day he had officially deemed her the most beautiful creature on Earth or Makai. And if that should be the case, he knew he would have trouble resisting the urge to kneel before her feet and pledge himself to her.
No!
Wrong! Very wrong!
What in the nine hells was wrong with him? He felt like rediscovering his lunch all over the carpet at his own thoughts. It was ridiculously pathetic.
Give it time.
He tried to assure himself. This acute and undeniable attraction to a woman was something he'd never experienced before, and therefore had no knowledge on how to deal with it. But he would learn to quell it, to beat it. And tonight would be the ultimate test of his will.
His will to put this pitiful attraction, better acknowledged as distraction, out of the way for good. And then no other woman would ever be able to cast such a spell over him again, because he would have discovered how to defeat it.
Steeling himself determinedly, he knocked at her door.
J.J. - Hurrah-- finally. .; Thanks to those who read and reviewed The Chains That Bind Us, and last chapter. You all truly rock.
R.R.
Thanks for writing. :)
(-beams-) You're welcome.
Will there be better explanations about the relationship between Hiei and Mukuro? Is she an ex-girlfriend?
(-evil cackle-) Oh yes. Naturally, I'll bring her in right when Hiei and Botan are finally happy.
Well... you're taking college courses? Please don't tell me you're getting strait "A"s... PLEASE., because then you'd be too much like my step-sister for your own good.
Thought I'd also clear up the fact that I'm not in college yet (thank you Lord), just taking the courses. And, no. I'm pathetically proud of my C-. >.>;
Will Koenma make an appearance anytime soon?
Hm... I hadn't really thought of bringing him in, but there are definite openings for him.
Jealously of who! It better not be Botan, someone can be jealous of her, but she cant be jealous, I hate fics lyk that.
Sorry to disappoint?
Is she a artist? Make her paint something! Really! She needs do something besides, cleaning, fainting and get really hot rich guys...
(-snort-) Heh... you amuse me. But, in all seriousness, Botan shall be painting more-- I have a cool scene planned concerning it, but it won't be until after the banquet.
Botan, you moron! Who takes someone else meds?
Botan: Hey now... it got me in Hiei's bed, didn't it?
Can't believe I forgot to post this one before...
O.O
Y-Y-You're... SHERKONI!
Aren't you?
I mean, I examined your art work, and profile with Sherkoni's and you sound like the SAME EXACT PERSON.
You must be! I know you are! I am a hard core Sherkoni fan!
Uh... no. If I were in fact Sherkoni, I would post my stories on my old account. Obviously, the girl has a great taste for things, but I'm not her. However, I do like her stories... specifically Soulmates. n.n;
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(Next Chapter: The Moonlight Banquet: Part I)
