Author: I do so love this story!

Hiei: Well, get it over with. This one is not long is it?

Author: No, Hiei it isn't, but it is full of twists and turns. grins

Hiei: Why am I not surprised?

Author: Well, enjoy everyone!

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Chapter 2

"What? Gave me the dominant power? What exactly does that mean Hiei?" Botan asked in shock.

"It means exactly what I said. I go where you want regardless of the fact that I am stronger physically and mentally than you are. Unfortunately for me that also means that my emotions will be the main focus," Hiei said unhappily.

Botan sighed. At least her emotions would be on a back burner to Hiei's, and she was fairly certain that he would have plenty of emotions to work through. Maybe that was the real reason Koenma had placed the two together. Koenma knew that Botan was good at the emotion side of people, and her curiosity for Hiei knew little, to no, boundaries. Perhaps she would learn what made the demon tick

"Well then I believe you two will be staying here for a time, right?" Yukina asked softy.

"It would seem so Yukina, and since I will not be sleeping in a tree, Hiei and I will help you prepare a room for us. I do hope this will not turn out to be a hardship on you Yukina," Botan said kindly.

"Oh, of course not. Genkai was leaving tomorrow to visit a fellow psychic with Yusuke and they were going to take Kuwabara, Shizuru, and Keiko with them. They said they didn't know how long they were going to be gone, so I would have been all alone here until they got back. But now I will have some company for at least part of that time, right?" Yukina said with a smile.

"Right!" Botan replied.

'So Yusuke and Kuwabara are finally getting more training, I wonder why no one told me about it. I am Yusuke's assistant. I am beginning to feel like this is a plot of some kind. I have always been one of the first to know what is going on with Yusuke, but now it looks like I am the last to know. Better keep these kinds of thoughts out of my head for a while though now that I am linked to Hiei, he will be able to read my mind better than usual. He never was very good at it, or maybe I am just really good at hiding, oh well. Better start paying attention, and acting ditzy,' Botan thought to herself.

"Botan, are you okay?" Yukina asked concerned.

"Perfect, just thinking about the cutest little kitten I was thinking about adopting," Botan said making her cat-face.

The three made up a room for Hiei and Botan and then they all decided that they should try to get some sleep. Botan was hoping not to have any nightmares while chained to Hiei. It was bad enough he would hear her waking thoughts, but for him to be able to hear the thoughts and feelings and memories she couldn't control seemed dreadfully unfair.

The two quietly got ready to sleep Hiei in a pair of black boxer shorts and Botan in a tank top and boxers. Hiei laid down on the cot that had been prepared for him and Botan grabbed her hairbrush and began brushing through her long blue locks.

"Do you have to do that now?" Hiei asked annoyed.

"Yes, because I have to brush it and then braid it so it doesn't tangle," Botan replied.

"Well at least be quick about it," Hiei retorted.

Botan finished brushing her hair and quickly braided it down her back. Then she laid down and the two finally fell asleep.

---dream---

Botan walked out of the portal and began wondering Ningenkai. She didn't know what she was doing except that she was looking for something. She continued to walk over Ningenkai until she ran into Yusuke.

"Yusuke, how are you?" Botan asked the teen.

"Who are you?" he asked confused.

"Don't be an idiot Yusuke. It's Botan, you know me," she replied.

"No, I'm afraid I don't know anyone by the name of Botan," he said confused.

"Yes you do, Yusuke. Remember I was your guide back to life when you got hit by that car protecting that kid with the ball," she said worriedly.

"I have no idea what you are talking about. You must be looking for someone else," he said.

Yusuke then walked away. Botan was really confused. What was wrong with Yusuke, then she decided to look for Keiko to see if she could figure out what was wrong with Yusuke. Botan walked all over the city looking for Keiko. She finally found her at the supermarket.

"Keiko, do you know what is wrong with Yusuke, he acted like he didn't know me," Botan said to the girl.

"I'm sorry do I know you? How do you know Yusuke? Do you go to school with us?" Keiko asked confused.

"No, Keiko, I'm Botan. Ferry girl, guide of the River Styx, Grim Reaper. Please tell me you remember the Dark Tournament. Yusuke almost died, so did Kurama, Hiei, and Kuwabara. And Genkai did die, then Koenma brought her back. Please remember Keiko," Botan pleaded.

"I'm sorry of course I remember," Keiko said.

"You do?" Botan asked relieved.

"Sure. Now I have to get home," Keiko said as she quickly walked off.

Now Botan was really worried. Not only did Yusuke not remember but Keiko didn't either. And Keiko thought she was insane. She had to find Kurama. He was her only hope. Or maybe Kuwabara. This time Botan ran. She had to find someone who would remember her. She was beginning to panic. Then she saw Kuwabara.

"Kuwabara! Please tell me you remember me, I don't know what I will do if you don't," Botan said quickly.

"No, but I wouldn't mind knowing you," Kuwabara said.

"No, you love Yukina! Not me Yukina! Please tell me you remember Yukina!" Botan said beginning to panic.

"Is that you?" Kuwabara asked.

"No, I'm Botan!" she said panicking.

"I don't think I know Yukina," Kuwabara said.

"Oh, forget it! I'm going to go find Kurama!" Botan said running off to find the redhead.

She found him at school. She was truly hoping he would know her and help her with their friends. He was her only hope since as she had run to his school she had tried to contact Koenma only to find that she didn't have her communication mirror. She quickly ran into the classroom he was in.

"Shuichi, I'm so glad I found you. Please you have to help me. Yusuke, Keiko, and Kuwabara don't remember me. And I don't know where my communicator is so I can't get a hold of Koenma," she said quietly.

"And, who are you?" Kurama asked calmly.

"Kurama, please remember me," she pleaded.

"Come with me. We need to speak in private I believe am I right?" Kurama said taking her arm and leading her out of the building.

Botan sighed. He did remember her after all. Maybe he would be able to help her. She tried not to get her hopes up, but there was no way around this. She would be able to be with her friends again, and then everything would be right again.

"Who are you and how do you know that name?" Kurama asked once they were outside and out of hearing range.

"It's me Botan. Remember Yusuke's assistant. You and Hiei and Goki stole the dark treasures from Reikai, and Yusuke and I stopped you. Well you stole the mirror to save your mother, but still. Surely you remember now right?" Botan pleaded.

"My mother died months ago. I don't know anyone by any of those names. Who are you?" Kurama asked.

"Botan, Guide to the River Styx, Spirit Detective assistant. And I used to be your friend. Please Kurama you have to remember. You are my last hope in the city. Hiei will be a last resort and if you don't remember me I will have to go to Genkai's and talk to her and Yukina. Please Kurama… please remember me," she pleaded trying not to cry.

"I'm sorry, but I don't know you. Now if you will excuse me I have to study," Kurama said and then walked away.

Botan fell to her knees. She would now have to travel to Genkai's temple and speak to the woman and Yukina. Surely they would know her. Surely they would remember. Genkai was not one to be easily attacked and she would not have had her memory stolen she was just too smart for that.

Botan made it to Genkai's temple in record time. She had tried to summon her oar, but found she could not. It disturbed her, but not near as much as the sight of the psychic training a young man that was not Yusuke.

"Master Genkai, what is going on?" Botan asked stunned.

"Who are you girl, and why are you interrupting my training of my pupil and successor," Genkai said firmly.

"But Genkai, he isn't… Yusuke is your apprentice. What is going on? And why don't you remember me?" Botan asked struggling against her tears.

"I don't know anyone by the name of Yusuke. And I don't know you because I have never met you. And why would I? You are just a human with no spiritual powers at all, now scram so I can train my pupil," Genkai barked.

Botan had finally just about given up. She couldn't sense Yukina anywhere, and she was certain Genkai didn't remember her. But why was she training someone else? What was going on? Finally she decided her last hope was Hiei. She knew he was probably the least likely to have been caught in a trap, and probably the least likely to help her, but it was worth a try. She quickly made her way to the park where Hiei liked to train. Once she got there she began calling for him.

"Hiei! Hiei, where are you? Come out here I need to talk to you. Please come out, Hiei, you know I wouldn't bother you if it wasn't important. I will get the whistle if you don't come out here!" she threatened.

Suddenly a figure appeared. He was steeped in shadow. He said nothing, but Botan knew it was Hiei. Somehow he seemed different. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but he wasn't the Hiei she knew.

"How do you know my name?" Hiei asked dangerously.

"Because I know you. I know everything about you. Hiei, you fought in the dark tournament against your will and your wish was going to be the bloody death of all the committee members so you would never be dragged into another one. You are friends with Kurama, and Yusuke and though you won't admit it Kuwabara too. You pretend to hate me because of what I represent, but you can't hate me completely. I know you love your sister, and she was the only thing that stopped you from killing her captor. Please tell me you know me too," Botan pleaded.

"Why would I waste my time on a human like you. I would never know you nor would I want to know you. And as for friends, they are a crutch for the weak, and I am far from weak," Hiei said angrily.

"Hiei, please remember me. I need you to remember me. Hiei, please," Botan said crying.

"What do you want! I was sleeping, and your incessant moaning woke me," Hiei said irritably.

"Hiei, so you do remember me?" Botan asked hopefully.

"So it was a nightmare… you had a bad dream that all of your precious friends forgot you? Poor foolish child, now wake up before I slit your throat!" Hiei said.

"Wait! What do you mean nightmare? What is going on?" Botan asked confused.

"Wake up and I will tell you. I don't particularly care for being in your mind with my jagan and I am pretty sure neither do you, so wake up and we will talk, or do you need help with that. I would be more than happy to wake you if you are too weak to wake yourself," Hiei said with a smirk.

---real world---

Botan woke with a start. What just happened? That dream had been so familiar, and yet it had ended wrong. Hiei was supposed to say he didn't know her nor did he care to know her and then the demons… they were supposed to show up, and tell her that they had altered her life that no one could care for her no one could ever know her.

"Are you going to tell me why you were moaning like that?" Hiei said annoyed.

"It- it was just a dream. It was nothing," Botan said softly.

"You truly are weak. I could feel your fear and sadness. You are a weak minded simpleton, and I know what you were dreaming. Why would it matter to you if I remembered you or not? You seemed the most upset when I told you that I did not nor ever would care to know you. Why would that upset you the most?" Hiei asked scornfully.

"Because you were my last chance," Botan said softly.

"Hn, now go back to sleep and try not to cry out my name in the future. After all that is what woke me, and I don't like to be woken up," Hiei said turning over to go back to sleep.

"Thank you for waking me. That was only going to get worse," Botan said softly.

"Hn, than it is a good thing I woke you when I did," Hiei said.

Botan could not understand. She knew it was more than the fact that the fire-demon was her last chance that she was so upset every time he told her he didn't care. She was glad he had woken her when he did. Because the next part was always what got her screaming, and she did not want Hiei to see that part of the nightmare. Quickly she pushed the thought from her mind and tried to go back to sleep.

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Author: Chapter 2 is done! Yay!

Hiei: What do you plan on doing next?

Author: I will tell you after the readers review.

Hiei: draws katana Hurry up and review or I will personally slit all of your throats!

Author: Hiei please don't do that. I like my readers even if they don't review.

Hiei: resheathes katana Fine.

Author: Please review people. Ja ne!