Chapter 4: We All Have Secrets

Botan's POV

A sigh escapes my lips as it is now April the first, the party is near, but I'm bored out of my mind. I finally get a vacation only to spend it alone, while all my friends are in school. There's Yukina, but I don't want to bother her, and she hasn't gotten use to the crowds of people in the city yet. Plus Hiei would kill me if anything happened to her. 'Hiei?' Might as well go see how he's doing since our last encounter. I had felt that it's my fault for screaming at him, and asking for him to kill me. 'He was only…worried?' Hiei is an inconsiderate jerk most of the time, but that's because the world has neglected him since his childhood days. He lost happiness, care, laughter, affection, warmth, hope, and trust. I gasp. 'Just like me.' My eyes widen in realization, and I knew I had to speak to Hiei and…and apologize. I summon my oar and fly out my bedroom window. The sun is bright and warm today, nearly blinding my eyes. I lift one hand above my eyebrows in order to shade my eyes from the sun. I pass by the city on my way toward Genkai's temple, when I caught sight of a gigantic ice cream cone, sitting on top of a white and pink truck. I land in an alleyway below, change into human form and walk out toward the truck. 'Perfect!'

I somehow manage to fly to Genkai's forest without dropping the containers that are tuck underneath my right arm. I walk toward the tree, where I had met Hiei two nights ago, assuming that he'd be there. Now holding a container in either hand, I glance upward, and there I spot a black figure within the thick leaves of green on the treetop. A smile spread on my lips.

"Hello Hiei!" I said in a cheery voice and a wide, silly smile, yet Hiei didn't seem to acknowledge my greeting. He didn't move nor did he open his eyes. 'You're still mad.' I could not blame him because I knew he didn't intend to kill me, but I urged him to, treating him like a ruthless killer. He's probably still angry and probably shocked that I took his threats seriously, when all those other times in the team I always acted silly, and never thought much of his threats. I shrug my thoughts away, and tried a different approach.

"Isn't it a warm day today, Hiei? I passed by the city on my way here and brought some sweet snow. Well, I bought a pint of chocolate-flavored sweet snow for you also. Um…I'll just lay it by the tree trunk then." I felt a bit disappointed when not even his favorite flavor of sweet snow (ice cream) could get a response from him. I turn around; ready to walk away, when I felt a swift breeze blew past, ruffling my hair and clothes. I return my gaze at the spot underneath the tree only to find it empty. I smiled knowingly, and sat down underneath the tree. I open my own pint of banana split ice cream, and stop. I place the lid on the ground and stare at it as if it was the only object in my line of vision. "Hiei, I-I'm sorry. I'm sorry for yelling at you, and I'm sorry for telling you to kill me two nights ago."

"Hn whatever," is Hiei's plain reply.

"Hiei, why didn't you kill me?" I blurt out before I could think about what I had just asked.

"Hn." 'Is that all he ever says?' I raise one eyebrow and lean against the tree. Something in his tone when he answered told me he wasn't sure how to answer, but knowing Hiei he would never admit that. I smile weakly to myself. 'Softie.' I relax underneath the spring weather, eating ice cream and enjoying Hiei's silent company. It's strange how Hiei could be dangerous in other's view, but I know he's not that bad. Seeing how he cares about Yukina is proof enough. "Hiei, why don't you want Yukina to know you're her brother?" I mentally smack myself for my stupidity. 'My mouth always gets me in trouble, but I am curious.'

I heard the shuffling of leaves and knew I had caught his attention. "Mind your own business, Onna," he said in his deep, monotone voice. For some reason my curiosity rose, and I just let my mouth run before my brain could even consider the consequences.

"You claim that you are trying to protect her or is it that you think she's a burden? I know I am crossing the line, but I believe Yukina has the right to know that her brother was always right there. I know you think that you're not worthy of being her brother, but have you ever thought of what she thinks? Didn't you see her sadness, when she wasn't able to find her brother?"

"Do not try my patience, Onna." Hiei's reply was spiked with acid and I knew I had hit a nerve. 'Maybe I shouldn't have pried. Everyone has their secrets, including me, but…'

I had finished my carton of ice cream, so I gather up the lid and carton, and stood up. I slowly walked a few steps away from the tree, and halted. "Hiei, one of these days you will regret not telling Yukina the truth." With that said, I continued to walk away, not waiting for Hiei's response.

Hiei's POV

I was lying in my usual tree branch within the old lady's forest, watching over Yukina, when I detected the ferry onna's presence. She landed and greeted me with her ever so happy-annoying voice, but I ignored her. Then she mentioned chocolate sweet snow. I had attempted to contain my desire for it, but all was in vain. I had phased out and snatched the bucket of sweet snow just as she was about to leave, thus startling her. 'Darn my liking of this human food.' I had rapidly started to consume my chocolate favored sweet snow, when she apologized. I had stopped my spoon, blinked once, but then continued my feast upon the tasty, thick substance. When she questioned my hesitation to kill her, I was nearly speechless, but gave her my usual 'Hn' response. 'As if I'd admit my fear to anyone besides a dead corpse that is.' With my lack of response, I figured she'd quit asking; however, the baka ferry onna just didn't know when to stop her babbling mouth. My head snapped, causing the leaves to rustle, when the ferry onna mentioned Yukina's name. She had caught my attention. My left eye was partially twitching, and I warned her to mind her own business, while adding a hint of acid in my voice. 'Like a baka ferry onna would understand my reason to hide the truth from Yukina.' The ferry onna might be stupid and pathetic sometimes, but what she said was all…was all true. My eye had stopped twitching, and I had leaned back against the tree with both hands placed behind my head. 'Of course I could see Yukina's sadness, and she does have the right to know the truth, but I am not worthy of her. I am just a ruthless demon, who's hands are stained with blood.' The ferry onna's words were ringing in my ears, and throbbing in my head, haunting me. I know…I know but…'Will I regret not revealing the truth to Yukina…will I?'

MiaHime