Author: Here is the next chapter! Enjoy!

---Time and/or Location change---

--------------------------

Chapter 13

---Botan's apartment---

"I talked to Yukina yesterday, and she said she would like for us to spend a day together at the beach. What do you think Botan? Want to go to the beach?" Hiei asked.

"I would, but I have grown so accustomed to taking off the wig again, that I am not sure how comfortable I would be," Botan admitted.

"Botan, you can be yourself around Yukina. In fact she would probably love the fact that you have a secret that you trust her with," Hiei said helping her make breakfast.

Botan sighed, and turned around to face Hiei, "I guess you are right, besides I love Yukina, and I think she would be more accepting."

"You know she would be, Botan," Hiei said turning around.

Botan started laughing. Hiei had been making pancakes and had gotten a smudge of flour on his nose, one on his cheek, and some in his jet black hair. She walked over and gently began dusting the flour off Hiei's face.

"Botan?" Hiei said looking down at her.

"Yes, Hiei," Botan said her hands having stilled when he said her name.

"I think I am falling in love with you," Hiei admitted.

"I think I fell a long time ago Hiei," Botan confessed.

Hiei gently pulled Botan into his arms and kissed her gently. At the first touch of Hiei's lips Botan's arms wound around his neck and her mouth opened slightly to allow his tongue to explore her mouth. Hiei growled and immediately tightened his grip on Botan's waist. They broke apart at a knock on the door. Botan and Hiei went to the door, and Botan answered both surprised to see Kurama and Kali at the door.

"Botan, what happened to your hair?" Kurama asked when Botan opened the door.

"Umm…" Botan could not think of an excuse.

"Koenma thought her customers would feel more… comfortable with a… guide that was a little less… normal, all things considered of her customers I think I would agree with him," Hiei said easily telling Kurama and Kali the truth without giving everything away to Kali.

"Oh, I get it. Since her customers are the dead she is guiding across the River Styx, Koenma thought they would be more accepting of death if the guide was less human. That does make sense," Kali said shocking Botan and Hiei, and making Kurama smile.

"Would you mind if we came in Botan. I think we all have a lot to talk about," Kurama said trying not to laugh.

"Of course. I mean we were getting ready to have breakfast, would you two like to join us?" Botan said flustered.

Botan led the other two to the kitchen table and her and Hiei finished breakfast. When they had settled down and began eating Kurama began to explain.

"You see what Shizuru did not realize is that her friends… aren't human. Kali is a fox demoness who uses illusion to stay in Ningenkai. She could smell a fox on me, and at first wasn't sure if I was the fox or if one of my friends was. Then she noticed the starburst in Hiei's hair and detected the presence of fire in his aura. And there is no way Yusuke is a fox, so she decided I was. Then she wanted to know what kind of group her friend had gotten herself involved in, and she couldn't place what kind of energy you possessed Botan, so when she mentioned Makai to me on our first date I was shocked to say the least. But we really hit it off and I told her everything. Well my story anyway. It is not my place to tell her any of yours just as it is not my place to answer the question I see in your eyes Hiei. If she wishes to tell you why she prefers Ningenkai to home she may tell you, but that is for her to decide," Kurama said gauging his friends reaction to the news.

"So you two are an item?" Botan asked curiously looking at Kali.

"Yes, we are," Kali said smiling at Kurama.

"Congratulations! I had hoped you would be able to pull our fox out of his little box of a world," Botan said to the girl.

"Little box of a world?" Kurama said slightly hurt.

"Oh, Kurama you know that is not what I meant. It is just that you are always off on your own and you never let any of us get that close to you, so I am happy that you are letting Kali get close to you," Botan said smiling.

"I could say the same about you two. I believe the demonic collar has been a help to your relationship," Kurama said grinning.

Botan and Hiei both blushed and Kurama laughed. Kali had joined in the teasing immediately feeling at home around the two. They sat around the table joking and laughing for about an hour. Then Botan remembered that Yukina was waiting, and excused herself and Hiei to go get ready and pack a few things since they would be spending the night at the temple.

"Botan, don't even wear that thing. I am sure Yukina will recognize you," Hiei said.

"Hiei, I just realized that Kurama and Kali should not have known where I live," Botan said suddenly.

"Maybe Yukina told them," Hiei suggested.

"Did you tell Yukina?" Botan asked.

"No, I thought you did," he responded.

"I didn't. Hiei the only person who knows besides you and me is Koenma. Unless Kurama called Koenma to get my address he never could have found me. The deed to the house is in a different name, and all that information is false just so no one will be able to find me and use me against you guys," Botan said.

"What do you think is happening, Botan?" he asked softly.

"I don't know but I don't think it is good. We have to get out of here. We leave out of my window, and then contact Kurama using the Jagan. Get him to meet us at the temple and go check on Yukina," Botan said then summoned her oar and the two flew off not even a full minute later.

'Fox, where are you?' Hiei called telepathically.

'I am in the park with Kali. Hiei what is going on, you sound panicked,' Kurama answered.

'Meet me at the temple. I have a bad feeling about this. And make sure you are not being followed,' Hiei said breaking the connection.

Botan and Hiei landed in front of the temple, and Yukina came out. Before she could get to either of them they told her to stop.

"Tell me something only you and I would know Yukina," Hiei said.

"What do you mean Oniisan?" Yukina asked.

"Please Yukina, just do it," Botan said softly.

"Botan what happened to your hair?" Yukina asked. "Oh, wait something only we would know… well… you and Botan are in love."

"Oh, Yukina, are you okay?" Botan said running over to her Hiei close behind.

"I'm fine. But Botan, what happened to your hair?" Yukina asked softly.

"Someone is coming Hiei," Botan said scared.

"It is just the fox and his Onna," Hiei responded.

"But which ones Hiei, the real ones or the fake ones?" Botan asked.

"There is only one way to find out," Hiei answered.

"Stop, don't come any closer. Prove to me you are Kurama," Hiei said forcefully.

"Hiei, you and I fought over Botan, and got drunk playing truth or dare," Kurama said confused.

"Okay, come here, this is important," Hiei said, before turning back to Yukina.

"We have to find somewhere safe where we can talk about this Hiei. I think it is Tsukato, and I think it is time I told everyone what happened," Botan said softly.

"What about Tsukato? How do you know him Botan?" Kurama asked confused.

"You know him?" Botan asked.

"What happened to your hair Botan?" Kurama asked even more confused.

"You know Tsukato?" Botan asked again.

"Yes, I knew him. He used to be a part of my ga… game," Kurama said remembering Kali was there.

"Fox, you are going to have to tell her. We have to protect Botan, she is being attacked," Hiei said forcefully.

"Kurama, why did he call you fox?" Kali asked.

"Perhaps I had better explain after if Botan is being attacked then it would be prudent to protect her first. But who is attacking her and why?" Kurama asked returning his attention to Hiei.

"His name is Tsukato, and he wants the thing that belongs to him to be returned to him," a voice said from inside the temple.

---------------------------

Author: Well there you have it. Another chapter. I hope you all liked it, please review and tell me. Gotta run now. Ja ne!