CHAPTER 3

That evening, after everyone has eaten supper, Hiei returned to the room he was sharing with the other boys. The others had gone to the lodge lounge for hot chocolate but the fire demon didn't feel like sociolizings. He had other things on his mind. When he stepped into the suite the fire demon headed over to the balconey and slid the glass doors open. He stepped outside. It had gotten colder but the snow didn't seem to be coming down any harder. He turned his face to the sky and saw the almost full moon trying to peek out from behind the clouds. It looked like it was going to clear up soon. Not that he cared one way or another. He just wanted to be outside where the weather was chilly and would cool him down.

A cold wind picked up and blasted cold air and snow in his face. He put an arm up to block the frozen spray and stepped back itno the room and closed the door. He dropped his arm and glared at the snowflakes.

Damn it! he thought, a low growl rising in his throat. I just wanted a few minutes! I few minutes! He pounded his fist on the window. Give me a break!

Just then he heard footsteps and voices in the hall and realized the others had come back earlier than expected. He still didn't feel like talking. He sighed and slid the doors open again. He ignored the wind as he stepped outside and into the snow. He didn't look back as he stood up on the balconey and jumped off.

Botan and the other girls went to bed as soon as they arrived in their room an hour later. They were tired from the trip up so none of them really put up a fight when Shizuru suggested they hit the sack early. The ferry girl fell asleep snuggled up in a warm thick blanket and feature soft mattress. It felt nice to be in such a cozy enviorment.

A few hours late Botan woke to complete silence. The wind was no longer blowing outside and everything was calm. Even so, the ferry girl didn't feel right about something. She just couldn't quite put her finger on it. Throwing aside her blankets, she climbed out of bed and stepping into the lvingroom area. Moonlight streamed in the sliding glass doors and illuminated the room in a slivery light. Botan walked up to the doors and looked outside at the scenery. The sky was perfectly clear with an almost full moon hanging low in the dark blue sky. The moonlight illuminated everything in view and made the snow glitter. The sight was beautiful and Botan sighed with happyness.

Suddenly she spotted something below. Curious she opened the sliding glass door and stepped out onto the balconey, for a closer look. She could just make out a black figure standing in the snow a short distance from the skating pond.

Is that Hiei? she wondered, leaning closer for a better look. The figure moved a little and she recognized it as Hiei. What's he doing down there?

She decided to find out. She raised her hand and her oar appeared in it. She climbed onto it and flew down to him. "Hiei!" she called to him. "Hiei!"

The fire demon looked over his shoulder. He spotted the flying onna and glared at her. What did she want? he wondered. When she landed and hopped off the boat oar, he snapped. "What do you want?" in a way too irritated voice.

Botan was a little surprised by the way he'd spoken then reminded herself he was always this way. "What are you doing out here?" she asked instead as she walked over to him.

He took a small step back. "None of your business onna," he growled, his red eyes cold.

"Shouldn't you be in your room?" she asked, not noticing how he was acting as she rubbed her arms."I mean aren't you cold? It's freezing out here!"

"Hn," he said, looking away from her and closing his eyes. He smirked. "The cold doesn't bother me." he lied. "I'm part ice demon. I won't freeze to death.

Well the cold didn't bother him, not that much anyway but he was feeling a little cold but wasn't about to admit it to Botan. That wasn't his problem with her being outside bothering him though. She was getting on his nerves and wished she'd go inside so he could figure some things out. Damn it! Gat the hell back in your room, baka!

"Still," Botan said. "You shouldn't be out here. You might be attacked by wolves or something.."

He turned to glare at her and she realized just how stupid that statement had been. If wolves did attack him he'd be able to deal with them.

"Why should you care, onna?" he demanded as something wet rolled down his cheek.

Botan noticed. Are you crying?" she questioned.

The fire demon went silent. His right hand involuntarily went to his cheek. When he felt the cold wettness he stiffened then brushed it off and gave her a strange look. It looked sad, angry, and upset.

"Hiei?" she asked feeling concerned for him. Is he sad about soemthing? Does all this snow remind him of the floating island?

Suddenly he vanished.

Botan gasped then heard the faint sound of a sliding door behind her. She turned around. She caught a glimpse of Hiei staring at her before he turned and went inside the boy's room, sliding the glass door shut behind him with a tiny click.

Botan stared at the door a moment trying to figure some things out. No answers came to her so she shrugged, hoped back onto her oar, and flew back up to her own room. He's acting strange all right, she thought. I wonder what's wrong.

The next morning Botan totally forgot about it. She had other things on her mind. Like how today she was going to tackle the ski slopes. The girl stared at her skis longingly. "Just a few more hours," she told them.

"Botan!" Shizuru called, coming into her friends bedroom and giving her a look. "Aren't you coming down for breakfast?"

"Uh... yes," Botan said, looking away from her skis. "I'm coming!"

Down in the lodge cafateria the others were already seated and eating when the girls entered the room and got in line. Botan noticed that even Hiei was there but he only seemed to be drinking water or was it hot chocolate? Yukina sat next to him and beside Kuwabara who was doing something with his fruit as he smiled at the ice maiden. Botan noticed there was only one empty seat left as Shizuru sat down beside Kurama. This one happened to be on the other side of Hiei. Botan sighed. She'd just have to make due and sat down. Hiei looked at her but said nothing. He looked away from her and continued looking out the huge window at the mountain and skating pond. The ferry girl studied his intent expression a moment then set down her breakfast annd turned to Keiko who happened to be sitting on the other side of the empty chair.

"So, are you going skiing today, Keiko?" Botan asked.

Keiko looked out the huge cafateria window. It had clouded over that morning and was starting to snow again. "I don't think so," she said, looking slightly worried. "I think we're going to have a storm today..."

Botan looked out the window. "It doesn't look that bad," she said.

"Maybe not now but probably later," she said. "Either way; we can't be to careful. We can go tomarrow."

Botan frowned. There was no way she was going to wait until tomarrow. "Well I'm going," she said determinly. "Whether you come or not."

Keiko shook her head but didn't say anything. There was no stopping the onna when she was like this. The brunette just shook her head again. "Good luck," she said.

"Thanks," Botan said. "Though I doubt I'll be needing any luck..."

Botan felt soemoe's eyes boring into the back of her head just then and looked over her shoulder. Hiei was glaring at her, his eyes scolding. It was evident he didn't like her idea either.

"Baka ferry onna," he muttered, looking away from her then standing up and leaving the table.

The bluette watched him go then stuck her tongue out at his fleeing figure. Hmph! she thought. Good grief! He should really mind his own business and why does he care if I go out anyway? Just because he wants to be miserable doesn't mean I have to too!

A/N

Botan's about to have one of her stupid moments. Thanks for the reviews on the other chapter. For a moment there I thought you all thought this story sucked or something. I hope I'm not dragging things out or something...