CHAPTER 2

Hiei stood in the lobby with the others as they got their room numbers and keys. It looked like it might take awhile so he looked away and stared outside the glass doors that led outside at the snowcovered landscape. He wasn't happy. He hadn't even wanted to come. It was Yusuke's fault he'd even considered it. The stupid teenager had convienantly mentioned Yukina would be there as well as the dopey love struck Kuwabara. He'd gone as far as suggesting that the two might do something that Hiei would disapprove of, like sleep together.

Hiei had thrown a fit at that suggestion and said he would come to 'protect' his sister and that was all. He'd protect her all right. He'd make sure Kuwabara behaved himself and kept his mitts off the ice maiden. The fire demon still disapproved of the whole thing and would have prefered Yukina dating someone else, like Kurama, but that wasn't going to happen since the fox was dating Shizuru.

The fire demon took his eyes off the snowy landscape. He couldn't stand looking at it any longer. It reminded him too much of the ice maiden's world in the Makai. The place where he'd been rejected. Snow...

"Hiei," a voice brought him out of his thoughts.

He blinked then stared at Kurama who stood in front of him with a room key card. "I have the keys to our room."

"What is that suppost to mean?" Hiei demanded, feeling irritable.

Kurama stared at his friend in surprise. Something's wrong all right. "It doesn't mean anything," he answered. "we're sharing a hotel suit like we did during the Dark Tournament."

"Hn," was all the fire demon said before he turned away, grabbed the key, and followed the others into the elevator.

Kurama watched him go, feeling confused about his friend's behavior. What is wrong with him? the fox wondered. This trip isn't that bad. There is no reason for him to be acting that way. It's very unlike him not to eat something, even if he doesn't like it. Does he want to get sick or something? Will I need to talk to him again?

Hiei could feel Kurama's eyes on him as he stepped into the elevator. Don't even try to figure it out, fox, he thought, wanting to be anywhere but there. You'll never be able to. It's more complicated than you think and forcing me or tricking me to go on this trip isn't helping. I do not plan on enjoying myself. There's too much... distraction...

Botan noticed Hiei's overly grouchy expression and wondered what was bothering him now. It can't be me, she thought. I didn't do anything. Did Kurama say something to him? I did see them talking. Was he scolded for his attitude?

Mind your own business, onna, a voice in her head ordered.

Botan gasped and looked at Hiei. He was ignoring her but the area covered by a white bandana on his forehead was glowing a soft red color. Botan frowned at him, feeling invaded. Hiei had been reading her mind.

She was annoyed. How dare he read my mind without my permission! she thought, indignant.

She would have said something to him but the elevator door opened just then and the group stepped out on their floor. Botan followed Keiko, Yukina, and Shizuru down the hall to their room while Hiei followed Yusuke and Kuwabara to theirs. Kurama was still on the first floor, not that it mattered much. He'd be up soon too.

When Botan and the others girls entered their room the onna stopped to stare for a moment. The room was beautiful! It was a light blue color with snow white trimming. The sofa and love seats were also white as well as the coffee table while the carpet was blue. Two sliding glass doors, that also posed as a window, let in the afternoon sunlight. It served as a frame for the view as well which Botan could see very clearly from there. The onna spotted a balcony just outside their sliding doors and a light blue table with a umbrella and chairs on it.

"Wow!" she exclaimed, walking into the room and running her hand over the furniture. "This is great!" she headed toward the glass doors and looked out at the view. "Bingo!"

She could see for miles! She could see mountains that seemed to go on forever. This is great! she thought, looking down toward the forest. They even have a skating pond! I just hope the slopes are great.

She slid the door open and stepped out onto the balconey. The cold and a few snow flurries bit her cheek gently the instant she stepped outside. The onna leaned against the railing and breathed in the fresh mountain air. I have a feeling this week is going to be wonderful!

When Hiei and the other boys entered their room Yusuke took one look around and exclaimed. "Awesome!" he flopped onto the couch and flicked on the TV. "Hey they have satelellite! Sweet!"

Kuwabara sat on the couch and picked up the remote. He changed channels.

"Hey!" Yusuke exclaimed, making a grab for the remote. "I was watching something!"

"Too bad, punk!" Kuwa said, holding the remote just out of his friends reach. "My Little Ponies on!"

"My Little Pony?" Yusuke cracked up. "You watch My Little Pony?!"

"So what?" the carrot top asked, feeling defensive. "Real men watch My Little Pony."

"Real gay men!"

"You take that back!"

"No."

Hiei rolled his eyes and ignored the squabling boys. He headed toward the balconey and slid the sliding door open. He stepped outside and the cold air bit into his face. He ignored the cold and glared at the mountains in the distance. One week, he told himself. Just one week. I can keep it in check for that long...

"I'm queen of the world!" someone shouted in a loud obnoxious voice.

Hiei flinched at the sound then turned his head toward the sound. He saw Botan standing on the balconey for the room next to his, her head back and her arms stretched out wide, as if she were drinking in the snow and wind.

Stupid onna, he thought looking away from her. It was bad enough he was sharing a hotel suit with three idiots but now he would have to put with with the blue haired girl being in the other room. This was a recipe for disaster. Then he thought it would be interesting to get on the girl's nerves. He vanished then reappeared on the other balconey, right behind the onna.

"If you stand out here to long without a coat on you'll turn into a Snow Queen, baka," he said.

Botan gasped and turned around. Hiei stood behind her, blocking the door and smirking.

"What are you doing here?" she demanded.

"My room's next to yours," he answered, still smirking.

The girl blinked. "You are?" she asked. She sounded surprised.

"Yes," he said, folding his arms. "That means we'll be neighbors."

"Yeah I guess we will," she said, also folding her arms. "So is that the only reason you came over here or was it something else?"

"Hn," he sneered at her. "What could I possibly have to say to you?"

"I don't know," she said, shaking her head. "I don't know how your mind works."

The wind picked up and the cold air and snow blew around them. Botan shivered slightly and rubbed her arms for warmth.

Hiei watched her do this then stepped away from the sliding door. "You'd better get inside," he told her in a voice that seemed strangely concerned. "Unless you watch to catch cold."

Botan started to say something but Hiei vanished in a flash of black. She looked over to the other balconey and saw him standing there, staring at her with a weird expression on his usually stone cold face. When he saw her staring he glared at her before he turned and went back into his own room.

What was that about? she wondered.

A/N

Yusuke knows how to get under Hiei's skin.

I hope that turned out okay. I had to fix a few mistakes in this chapter and change some stuff but I'm satisfied. I hope they were in character. Let me know what ya think okay?
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